World in My Eye

2011-10-10T12:53:00.001-06:00

Today was a 20-fling boogy day; those of you who have ever read anything by Flylady may recognize the phrase. I went into the lower level armed with one bag - a TRASH bag. I had to be ruthless; if anything went into recycling or give-away bag, the boys would rifle through it and get the stuff back out. Some fairly new stuff went into that bag. There had been many warnings about taking apart a blongo ball ladder set up. The pipes were all over the house and lately they had been used as makeshift weapons during a play date. The entire set up, including balls, is now in the trash. Ditto for old hot cars tracks, nerf toys that just get banged about, old super soakers and water guns. The downstairs looked neater than it's looked in years after I filled a bag.I swear the legos may be next. They are all over the house. Then I think of the $$$$$ invested in them and think "probably will not get tossed". Fall is when my thoughts turn to deep cleaning. We are considering removing all carpet on stairs, halls and living room and replacing with hardwood flooring. I bet the cost would not be that much more than new, high-quality carpeting.

2011-10-05T18:28:00.005-06:00

Our oldest son trotted off to a sleep-away camp today - 2 nights and 3 days. It's something all 5th graders in our school district attend. The house is really strangely quiet and empty. Ryan is missing his brother, and the dog is worried. I finally remembered the video camera so caught Parker's exit via bus with 90 of his peers, but dollars to donuts the scenes will be shot wonky - I do not have a very good attention span.The nights are getting colder and the days are getting shorter. I love this time of year. Halloween approaching, thinking about travel for the holidays, lots of good things and tasty eats on the horizon.

2011-09-28T22:03:00.003-06:00

We are looking forward to having a guest guinea pig in the house for a few days. This is truly an answer to my prayers; Parker desperately wants a guinea pig but suffers allergies. And I don't really want another being to nurture; you know how it is, the child says they will take care of the pet but don't so it usually falls to the mother. Parker and Ryan are also joining a lego robotics team. That should be great fun for them. We are a little overscheduled for now, but we'll figure it out...

2011-09-27T12:16:00.002-06:00

I Love Fall.Fall is when thoughts of cosy sweaters (that hide my bulk), hot cocoa with plenty of whipped cream (that add to my bulk) and trips to Williams Sonoma to get enameled-coated pots (talk about Bulky!) start to creep into my head.I do believe a trip to Costco to get the big tubs of fall mums in our school colors (purple/yellow/white) are in order. Or maybe brilliant deep red. Hmmmmmm.Coming up are tales of RVing and UTVing in Colorado and Wyoming.Packing lists for said RVing and UTVing.That's all I got for today.

2011-09-26T14:19:00.002-06:00

Hello again.Today I kicked facebook to the curb. It took all morning to delete photos and links out of my account. And the thing is not dead yet and may never be. Insidious describes it best.True to the last post many moons ago, we have been using the Toy Hauler, truck, Polaris RZR and other toys a lot. It has been heaven for us a family. I can state for a fact that going out in the RV is a lot of work for the parents. Apparently, we have no learning curve with packing as we forget something IMPORTANT every time. This time, it was comfort food items like barbeque sauce, Cholula and maple syrup. Other times it has been -- pillows. Or blankets. Underwear for various family members. More to follow.Back to scrubbing fb clean.

YO! It's been a year since I've blogged!

2011-02-17T16:19:00.002-07:00

Well, nearly a year. But who's counting?
Influenza b has us in its grip, which is why I suddenly have 'time' to post. I cannot catch a full breath so can't get anything done. Convenient, no?
Facebook has taken the place of blogs. It's true. I check in daily to read The Pioneer Woman because she has a basset hound. Sad but true. Some days I like my dog better than my children. Also sad but true. But not very often.
Big News - we bought a toy hauler/RV thingy! Photos to follow. In fact, this blog may morph into a White Trash on Wheels site! Join us as we tour the country, leaving behind disbelieving passersby, flashbulb-blinded wildlife but NO trash--hey, we are enlightened folk!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! More to come, I think. Well I know, but I mean HERE.
Here we are at Christmas

Shopping for boys' clothing is No Fun.

2010-02-19T11:52:00.005-07:00

These boys of ours have gotten suddenly picky! Who knew 8 and 9 years olds cared about their clothing? Besides comfort, of course; suddenly I'm hearing "That's awful!" and "Only a DINK would wear that!" and this gem, said with a sneer "Yeah, right - maybe when I was FIVE, Mom!"
Bright colors? NOT allowed any more.
Stripes? AM I DAFT?! "Those look like pj's for gosh sake!"
The hated stripes:

And - horrors of all horrors - I caught Parker trying to shimmy down his pants waistband so that his undies were hanging out on top like a 15 year old skater!
Then I heard him comment to his brother: "You undo those buttons and make the waist big. That way they come down and rest right above The Johnson. It's cool!"
Ryan's reply? "That looks stupid and what is Johnson?"
"Your WEINER, YOU IDIOT! Don't you learn anything in 2nd grade any more?!"
The sneaky britches, elastic now sewn at near-waist size.

I have gone back to supervising clothing selection in the mornings.
Ryan's Closet- still some red but going beige/navy

Parker's Closet - Only bright is orange oldies *sigh*

Repaired computer arriving 2/11

2010-02-08T17:05:00.002-07:00

The entire laptop had to be sent back to it's Maker. Kind of like a round trip to God. The old Dell laptop I've been using does not have virus protection at this time, due to some snafu with Comcast (we have a lot of computers in this house, and taking the time to figure it out - well, it's not worth if for this one). So, I've only been able to check email and a couple of other sites, you know the safe ones. No clicking on links.
The kindle and I have been spending quality time together.
This winter has been a bitch.
I'm in a crappy mood today.
Further Affiant sayeth Not.

New Laptop is Thumpers Up.

2010-01-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

Well, Crap.

This I Love:

2010-01-04T18:38:00.003-07:00

This time in the tub:

This body soap:

These boys:

This DogBert:

This Man:

Disengaging the Holiday Decor

2010-01-03T18:35:00.002-07:00

It's a sad thing, this taking down of all the holiday cheer.
Ours is down today, well at least the outdoor lights and wreaths. A record of some sort for us. The rest of the cul de sac is still happily holiday. Us? Quite honestly, I am ready for Spring.
The trees are still up in the house. I love the light from them and will miss it when it's gone. It creates such a warmth, and it's been a very cold, snowy winter here.

I also had a flirtation with the treadmill today. I went downstairs with a latte, but luckily the phone rang. The pilates bench is also calling, but I've given that beast a deaf ear for years.

New Year's Resolutions? None
Cookies eaten? Sadly, many. We got a box of home-made cookies from Chicago and that did me in.
Mornings spent lying in bed with 2 little boys? Every one of them. I put network cartoons on to extend their time so I can read, and let them eat cereal in bed. With the dog.
Games played during vacation? Dozens
Books read during holiday? FIFTEEN and that is not a typo.
Relaxation Experienced? Oh, yes.
Agony of Shingles? Apparently, gone as of yesterday. But I'm touching wood!

It's been such a great vacation. I still miss my dad terribly, of course.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-12-31T12:22:00.001-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all who visit here.
I personally hope nobody I love dies in 2010.
I pray for better understanding, aid and tolerance among nations.
I hope for some prosperity and good health for my family and for yours, too!

Out of the Mouths of Babes:

2009-12-27T09:09:00.002-07:00

Subject: Why we love kids
1) NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, 'Mom, that lady isn't wearing a seat belt!'
2) OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.'
3) KETCHUP
A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone 'Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle.'
4) MORE NUDITY
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'
5) POLICE # 1
While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop? Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report.. My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?' 'Yes, that's right,' I told her. 'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'
6) POLICE # 2
It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. 'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked.
'It sure is,' I replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'
7) ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by t he various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, 'The tooth fairy will never believe this!'
8) DRESS-UP
A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, 'Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit.'
'And why not, darling?'
'You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning.'
9) DEATH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased.
The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: 'Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes.' (I want this line used at my funeral!)
10) SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!'
11) BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out.
'What have you got there, dear?'
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

Fully in the Christmas Spirit!

2009-12-22T12:14:00.006-07:00

For some reason, and I don't know why and will not question it; I am completely and absolutely enamored of this Christmas season.
Not feeling jaded; no not me.
Not blinking and bewildered, nope.
Feeling fulfilled, unhurried and at peace.

We did visit my dad's grave for the first time yesterday. Parker, Ryan and I drove down to Nana's, picked up her and the wreath and then drove out to Ft. Logan Military Cemetery. Lots of the graves had holiday sentiments, presents, fresh flowers and wreaths on them. It was actually rather lovely.

Ryan had a hard time with it. He clung to his PopPop's grave marker and looked very sad. His eyes welled up twice. My mother and I were crying off and on. Parker, Mom and I visited other graves, noting that some of the military deceased were VERY old (100! Lots over 90!) and some were very, very young.

As usual, there was a good mood-breaking bit of mirth: I had Mom and the boys pose at the grave, centering the wreath. Finally, Parker quipped, after much posing and shooting; "You DO know this is not PopPop's grave, Right?..." to which Mom and I burst out laughing and then shuffled them forward, to my dad's grave to do it All Again.

Also, I'm tossing in this photo of a padded floor quilt I made for a dear teacher at school who's just had her second. The play blankie is bigger as there will be two chilluns reclining on this most of the time.

Menus for the Eve, the Day and Boxing Day:

2009-12-20T17:03:00.003-07:00

Christmas Eve: Ryan and I (I KNOW!!!) are making turkey with sausage, onion and pecan stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, condiment trays (his words; I have no idea yet what 'condiment trays' mean to him - I suspect raw carrots), cranberry/horseradish relish and tinned cranberry jelly, pumpkin pie and whipped cream.
Christmas Morning Brunch: Parker and I are making spiral cut ham, brie en croute stuffed with cherries and almonds, potato salad; green beans broiled with coarse salt, pepper and olive oil; others are bringing home-made rolls, deviled eggs and desserts.
Boxing Day: Standing prime rib roast coated with horseradish sauce and baked to rare perfection, baked sputs, corn on the cob (?) and a big beautiful salad. Choco cake for dessert.
Photos may follow.

Santa arrived early!

2009-12-15T14:34:00.001-07:00

And to think; I asked for a serger, but Ken wanted to get me something to help me relax. What a great man!

Mister Stinky Toes

2009-12-10T11:07:00.001-07:00

I love these paws, these frito-smelling, multi-colored tender toes of Cody.

2nd Tree

2009-12-09T17:37:00.003-07:00

Ken came home to find us all decorating a second tree. He groaned and exclaimed "Ack - conspicuous consumerism..." but decided in the end it was a great idea.

This tree is in the family room and is visible from the areas we live in, as well as from the 2nd-story bridge. It's a cheerful sight to view all during the day. The big tree in the living room is our Christmas Day tree - it's a large enough area for six or more of us to sit and shred presents. Well, there's that pesky consumerism, again.

Christmas Tree-Close ups

2009-12-07T21:34:00.003-07:00

Click on any image to enlarge.
My favorite is the porcelain fairy, with mohair hair. Look at her tiny, painted toenails!
My sisters, my grandma, my mom, my nieces and my children have made many of these ornaments.

Getting the Christmas On

2009-12-06T19:49:00.004-07:00

Our babysitter (well, she's much more than that, but it's a one-word descriptor) Anne-Marie really got Christmas going for us this year. She rigged up the system to get the tree assembled

Anne-Marie and the boys decorated the tree. They are getting quite picky about this task.

I decorated 2 table tops, well 3 counting the one visible to the left of the tree.

I may try to add photos of individual ornaments later. We are all bushed. We did get out to Macy's to drop the letters in Santa's mailbox. Even though the boys are getting sceptical about Santa, they are still hedging their bets.

My last photo of Robert

2009-12-01T21:20:00.002-07:00

This will be my last photo forever of Robert, myself, some of our kids and Stephen.

It breaks my heart to look at this photo. He looks happy; we all were so happy that August day.

I still can't quite say goodbye to my gentle, caring friend.

The Pantry Purge

2009-11-30T14:43:00.002-07:00

It's fitting that this post would be the end of nablopomo for me.

Yesterday I spent 4 hours purging our pantry. At the end, there were three tall kitchen trash bags full of waste. And that's after pulling out everything that could be recycled. If the contents were oil, I did not try to recycle the container, however, and we had LOTS of 'designer oils' going rancid in there. Ugh.

I wish I would've thought to take a before photo. We had just gone through that pantry and pulled outdated stuff out a few months back, but I found plenty of stuff dated 2006 and 2007! I knew we were in deep doo-doo when I thought "Oh, this macadamia oil is from when those neighbors moved..." well, that was over 4 years ago.

I cannot tell you how excited I am. Of course, the only reason I could do this is because Ken is out of town. He called right as I was finishing, and I could hear the panic in his voice "Hey! You didn't throw out those 4 boxes of Ritz's, did you?!" Geesh.

Sunday Games

2009-11-29T19:32:00.002-07:00

Sundays are all about creativity in our home; there are no video games, no screen time, no tv except maybe a movie if I have a deadline for something.

The boys get up, we snuggle for a few minutes and start playing. It's usually a gentle game with Cody that morphs into something that involves racing around and around the house rather quickly. Finally, somebody gets it in the tenders (usually the dog jumping on a napping daddy) and that signals 'It's Time To Make WAFFLES'. We have waffles every single Sunday wherever we are, even if they are Eggo. Well, I have Vans since I am the no-wheatie girl these days.

Our daddy left early this morning on his every-other-week business trip. Parker and Ryan got busy with legos. The stuff they build always amazes me. I used to get kind of mad that they were breaking apart the models they built right after they built them, but then thought; isn't imaginative use better than a dust collector? So, now I move dozens of different creations carefully, knowing if I knock something off, it will be noticed.

But the best game they played today was "The Chase Is On". They got out their old play food, and Cody would grab a piece and run away with it. The boys would chase him, yelling "Drop that Pizza!" or "Drop that Sushi!" and the dog would zig and zag, in heaven with them chasing him. He never broke out of a slow trot, of course. They were running full out. Cody is an Aussie, a herding dog. That beast has moves 'til June. Sometimes he does a 360 in mid air, just because he can. He frequently jumps over both Ken and I in bed - from the floor. We have a king-size bed, a high one. Today during the game, he would beat the boys back to their 'picnic' area, drop the current piece, and snag a new one; pausing to let the boys see the evidence in his chops. They'd scream anew, and The Chase would be on, again. This game lasted an hour.

I got my pantry cleaned out. FOUR kitchen trash bags, after recycling any parts that could be, made it out to the trash. You do notice the man-outta-town-woman-tossing-crappe theme here, don't you? After reading The Unhealthy Truth, I am again on a mission to feed us properly. Ken called from Maryland, and reported that he had found a health food store and shopped for good stuff for him too.

Now I'm whupped. But it's a good Whupped.

Why my austistic kid may be better than your autistic kid.

2009-11-28T18:47:00.002-07:00

We all think our kids are better in some ways than other people's kids.
But mine truly may be.
Back in the Dark Ages, oh around 1983, my best friend Sherry went to the Dark Side -- yes, she went MACROBIOTIC *gasp*!
Talk about culture clash - I was still smoking at least a pack a day. I woke up, lit up and tossed down a full glass of cool aid with a hand full of cheap vitamins for breakfast. After all, I was a health nut - I worked out at a downtown gym in my shiny lycra tights, leotard and leg warmers every day! I ate vegetables -- if they came with my Chinese take out or happened to sneak on to my sausage pizza.
Sherry came over one day and cleaned out my pantry. And I mean, Cleaned. Out.
She tossed all 'White Death': White flour, sugar, rice, bread, Crisco, salt. She pitched all the rancid oils in my house, from salad dressings to cooking oil to olive oil. All pre-made and boxed foods went sailing into the trash. The freezer wasn't left unmolested, either. Almost everything in there was freezer burned and old. Out it went.
Sherry changed a bunch of people's lives, mine included. I learned that nothing is more important than pure salts, fats and water. Organic meant quality food, with no hormones or antibiotics. Whole grains were the staff of life. Meat was okay as a treat, just like ice cream. And to pay attention to what you put ON your body as well as IN it. Like pure soaps, body oils and shampoo. Simple tooth powder, a crystal salt rock for deoderant. Every day and every thing mattered.
When we got our sons, this became even more important for us. I took the boys to a naturopath doctor, who used homeopathy. She stressed that Ryan could not tolerate dairy, and to be suspect of soy too; to try a product new out from Odwalla - Odwalla milk. It was WONDERFUL - Ryan was by then 8 months old, and we were having such a time with ear infections, diahrrea and vomiting. The Odwalla milk did have soy, but it also had rice and oat milks and fruit. I added flax seed oil to every bottle, and other good things too, like bifidophilus or other remedies prescribed by his naturopath. He thrived. When we moved on to solid foods, I made all his food by pureeing steamed organic veggies, grains and fruit. Our meat has almost always been organic, free range when available.
Then, well, he wasn't meeting progress markers by his 18 month appointment, and we noticed personality changes as well. We started in with intervention when he was 20 months old. He stopped eating anything except yoghurt and crunchy carbohydrates -- but at least we made sure they were organic and whole grain.
I did this because I have known for years that you are what you eat. I knew it was essential to eat good food to have a more disease-free life.
But what I had no idea was that I may have also helped Ryan in his struggle with autism. An author read at a fund raiser that Barnes & Noble hosted for our school. Her book is The Unhealthy Truth and it will open your eyes about the connection between food and allergies, asthma, autism and ADHD in our children.
Tears of anger are squirting out of my eyes reading this book. Even with as informed as I was compared to my peer group, I made some huge mistakes in my children's diets. I can't go back, but I can do better in their lives ahead. And my husband and I will profit from eating better, too.

Thing I would Die For or Murder For

2009-11-27T15:33:00.003-07:00

In No Particular Order:

1. I would die for my sons. From 10 minutes after I held them to 1 millisecond ago; I would take bullets for these two. On second thought, I'd catch those bullets in my teeth and then,

2. I would MURDER the worthless human being who would take a shot at them.

ah, we're back to...

1. I would die to find a person who could cut my flat as pancakes front/wavy in back thick, yet skinny, hair. I've not had a good hair cut in over 10 years, since my guy moved to Atlanta (Jon Bryant, if you're out there, get your knees fixed and keep cutting hair, okay?), and come to think of it...

2. I'd like to murder the next stylist who gives me a Jennifer-fucking-Anniston-do -- you know, the long bob with the layers beneath it? Yeah, that shitty hairdo that I. Keep. Getting. From. Every. Stylist. Even when I say, Do not give me that tired old bob with layers! They cut, snip, razor finish, twirl me around and voila! I sigh, get up, pay w/tip and go home and know that I will never be able to make it look decent again. Then I grow it out, try another stylist who suggests "Let's take off alot of this weight!" and bang! It's the Jennifer-crappy-do again.

Hmmm, seems a pattern is developing here.

1. I would die to have a really great ethnic restaurant around these here parts. You know, the kind you find in New York, San Francisco, Chicago or even Seattle, for cripes sakes. I know where I live is essentially a suburb of the Mid-West, but gees; do we all have to eat meh all the time? Everything here is 'for the American palatte'. And come to think of it...

2. I'd going to murder the next mediocre Chinese or Mexican food restaurant owner who opens up in a formerly not-bad restaurant that couldn't keep going in this economy. I know it's hard right now folks; that's why every restaurant has raised their prices a handy 20% over the last few months. I get it. But why landlords feel the need to say "Hey! Let's rent it out cheap to the 22nd Mexi-Chinese place in a 4-block radius! What a great idea!" is beyond me.

I had a really great point to this when I started. But my mind is mush. Travel and meds have taken their hefty toll.

As You Were.

Hurtin' for Certain

2009-11-25T21:13:00.002-07:00

I am hurting pretty badly tonight.

I have taken so much of everything that I can take, plus added a percocet. Still, no luck. I just hurt, like a stabbing in the chest and a burning in my back.

Tomorrow we will be home. I cannnot wait to see our dog and sleep in my own wonderful bed. Parker and Ryan are anxious to be home, too.

Traveling is so wonderful, and I swear our boys change in great ways with every trip we take. But this one has been hard for me. I hope the boys had a great time, even with me laying low for the majority of it. They are always excited to see their older cousins, and their Uncle Glenn is a wild and crazy guy. What a blessing to have the hat trick of those three guys around for this vacation.

Stuffed like a Turkey

2009-11-24T19:52:00.005-07:00

We had a big feast here at Grandma's, again. Sunday we had Thanksgiving. Today, we had our annual shrimp scampi and fish fry. Complete with greens in hot sauce, green rice casserole (made with broccoli, Velveeta, evaporated milk, white rice etc), green beans and some other stuff.

Gees, we waddled away from the table, only to return to polish off the leftover Thanksgiving pies with ice cream. My clothing no longer fits. This is ridiculous.

Today was a lot of fun for the boys. Uncle Glenn was in rare form. He had them outside, picking up the big sticks from the dozens of trees on Grandma's lawn. Then they had to 'cool off' by getting the big water guns out of the garage and loading them up with swimming pool water and getting soaked, after they blasted ant nests on the ground, real and imaginary. Change of clothing later, Grandma and I decide to run to some Big Box to get her a new laser printer/fax (on sale for $150! yay!) We come back to tales of great excitement - Ryan has fallen in the pool! And rescued himself! Glenn says "Ryan fell in trying to fill his water pistol. He immediately popped up, yelped "I didn't do it!" and hopped out, using his arms to pull his body fully out like he was a Tarzan extra. Glenn said he asked him "Well, who in the heck pushed you in, then?" and Ryan said "Well, I didn't DO it."

You in the Special Kids world will figure it out immediately. Ryan leaves off descriptors. He didn't feel the need to add "ON PURPOSE!" because - Duh. The Dude Didn't Do It. Like. On Purpose. He told Uncle Glenn "These things happen, you know." which is something we say all the time when the water goes over, the plate flips over on the way to a table in the lunchroom, etc. The reset button won't get switched if panic sets in. If the Special Dude or Dudette gets a minute of "Hey! No Worries!" their little reset buttons will hit, and they will start again from square one. If they panic, they run.

I don't run around, waving my arms and yelping "Holy Shit - Autistic Kid! Beware! Take care of him!" No, I expect him to solve a lot of his problems and figure out how to manage his world before I intervene. But when a lunch room lady says "Hey, Ryan dropped his full tray today, and not only didn't pick it up, he didn't go get Mr. Bobby (janitor) or tell anyone; he just stood there and finally said "OH!" and then ran to get a new lunch!" I will say, "Well, Ryan has troubles with his Reset button. Next time you see him, and he's alone, tell him it's okay that he dropped his tray, but he needs to be responsible for the cleanup (the step involving Mr. Bobby), telling you (actual reset key on her computer to enable him to get 2 lunches in one day) and THEN to go get another lunch.

You with normals cannot even imagine how many steps there are in normal navigation for your children. It's automatic for them. But for autistic children, their world is a hugely complex series of bewildering chess games. And sometimes that game just can't be played. I can tell you I bring A LOT of hot fancy coffees to our staff for working so hard with Ryan. That includes secretaries, lunchroom staff, janitors, aids, etc. Ryan loves our school because he is welcomed and valued there. I know that's not usual, as kids like Ryan can suck the energy out of anyone. But these are dear, sweet, educatable kids; they just need a little bit of extra time and consideration. We know teachers/staff/admin don't have a lot of 'extra' to give. And we notice it 1000% when you do, and appreciate it even more.

Turkey Day, yesterday

2009-11-23T08:41:00.002-07:00

So now I've not posted again.
I could say I was way too busy cooking the early Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, but that would be untrue. Dudes, I was sleeping, something I never do during the day. Four hours slipped by as I lay unconscious to the world.

The drugs one takes for Shingles is a true craps shoot. I'm on Valtrex and Neurontin, massive doses thereof. I have to take the Valtrex EVERY EIGHT HOURS and there is a finger wag that comes with the dosing instructions about that. So that's special. The anti convulsive is more fluid - "You can take up to THREE pills, THREE times a day!" said with some enthusiasm. Then I read the pamphlet of doom that always accompanies prescriptions, and it says 'Watch out for depression, thoughts of suicide and....' Noice. I'm on a drug that will make me crazier than the Agony Of Shingles.

What these drugs have done is add a blurry edge to everything I do, and my eyes sometimes jump around. I don't think I'll be driving, I hope I get some relief (haven't noticed much yet) and beg for walking without a drunken stagger, complete with bursts of incomprehensible muttering. Because? That happened a couple of times yesterday.

Oh - my beautiful, wonderful mother in law roasted a sublime turkey, two kinds of dressing, three kinds of pies; my husband whipped up sour cream/butter/mashed taters; my lovely sister in law made beautiful sweet potatoes, tasty greens with loads of garlic and olive oil, two kinds of cranberry sauces and relishes; and I spent half an hour making gravy. At least I can report that it was fabulous.

A bonfire and a fire in my side.

2009-11-21T20:38:00.004-07:00

Ken's sister and her family have an incredible home on 10 acres in the woods just outside Tallahassee. The property is great for kids; there are lots of places to explore, dogs, rabbits, cats, wildlife, huge trampoline, big boys to entertain them and, the best thing -- plenty of fallen fuel for BONFIRES!

Today we ate roamed around, played with the dogs, jumped on the trampoline, rustled up some grub and then ate som'mores around a huge, blazing bonfire.

I forgot to dose one time and it now feels like I've carried home the bonfire in my side and armpit. Ow.

May I repeat: PLEASE go get the anti-shingles shot. I don't know what it's called. I bet if you call Walgreens, they will know what you are talking about. Get it.

I'm not kidding on this one. It's even worse than the plant featured above - poison ivy, of which there is plenty on their property.

In Shingles' Death Grip

2009-11-20T18:53:00.002-07:00

Oh, You Guys.
I have Shingles. You know this horrible pain I've had, the 'spider bites' along my back on on my side? Those were not spider bites. The cosmos has smote me with something far more dreadful.
The pain finally got to the point where I would wake up and not be able to catch my breath. Yeah, bad. Big time bad.
So three prescriptions later, I am feeling a tiny bit of relief.
But I still am in incredible pain; it burns, itches and is numb all at the same time.
Get the shot, dudes; get the shot. Just ask for the Anti-Shingles Shot. Pay whatever they ask. You do NOT want this Shit.
And I'm blaming this on Robert.

Too busy to post

2009-11-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I know I missed yesterday and this will have to count for today.
More later

"What Idiot Would Shop Here?"

2009-11-15T19:27:00.003-07:00

I arrived in Greece to meet up with my mother (my sister and dad came later) after partying for 2 days in West Germany (before the fall of the Berlin Wall). I was hung over, sleep deprived and in a foul mood. The airport in Athens was a madhouse, and the line for clearing customs was 50 people long. I'd had it. I broke out of the line as soon as I saw my mother waiting, as luck would have it right beside the pile that contained my luggage. An official gestured me back, but I pointed to my bags. I got to my bags without too much flack, and then just - hopped over the drooping rope. When an official came running, I thundered "I'M EXHAUSTED AND THAT IS MY MOTHER!" and turned my back and left. The crowd of harried family and friends waiting for their arrivals quickly closed behind us and that was that.
My mother said "Well, that was rich. Oh - wait 'til you sample a taxi ride!" I said "As long as they get us to the Chandris Hotel fast, I'm good." My mother muttered "Oh, no problem there..." and hailed a cab. The driver leapt out, threw (I am not kidding) my bags into the trunk and practically pushed us into the cab. I was still closing the passenger door when he revved the motor and screeched out into traffic. We careened around corners, my mother and I literally polishing the slick leather seat with our backsides as we slid from one side to the other. My mother stage whispered between clenched teeth "What Did I Tell You?!" and with that, the driver skidded to a stop, nearly tossing my mother and I into the front with him. "The Chandris!" he exclaimed, jumping out of the cab and snatching our door open. He had our bags at the bellboy stand tout suite, returned to us deftly plucking the cash from my mother's fingers and was gone before we could say "Holy Shit!"
The hotel was grand and full of interesting shops.
But the real shopping was in The Plaka or the business district. In the early 80's, there was an amazing array of stores and restaurants. The dollar was strong and if you shopped where the locals shopped, and could get tremendous deals on shoes and jewelry. My mother and I strolled around and decided where to return with my sister then 15) and my father.
Joan and I took off on our own one day, and ended up walking 5 hours as we got lost. Plus, we both got tired of the men honking and doing the kissy-lips as they passed us -- even with their wives in the car, beating on them and screaming! We had gone by a really exclusive shopping area, and we decided to come back with Daddy and mom.

Finally, our shopping dream came true; we'd gone to every museum, seen every available ruin and there wasn't much else to do. Daddy sighed and said "Ok, let's go see this swanky shopping district." It was gorgeous - we found places for Daddy to sit and sip his coffee or juice and off we took. Mom took him into 2 or 3 stores and he was flabbergasted at how much more expensive these places were than any place so far in Greece. Joan and Mom decided to take a break with dad. Just as he exclaimed to Mom and Joan "What Idiot would shop here?!", I came thundering down the sidewalk, arms loaded with packages.

Daddy looked at Mom and proclaimed "I Rest My Case."

Searing Pain in my Chest

2009-11-14T20:33:00.002-07:00

Tuesday, I woke at 4 a.m. with a pain in my ribs under my left breast. I realized that I had not slept much, and was hazy and bewildered getting the boys off to school.

After four physio/chiropractic appointments, I don't know that I'm much better. Turns out I have a huge mass of spider bites on the outer edge of my left breast (DAMN why did I put on clothing left on the floor a couple of weeks back, WHY?!) and the inflammation from them has caused havoc with my ribs and muscles in the back and chest wall. Some ribs are actually out of whack, and won't go back in yet. I fear the amount of anti-inflammatory drugs I'm taking will then tear up my innards. Oy.

Lovely.

So I have a physical symptom of an honest-to-God broken heart.

I'll get back to the Dad Diaries I think tomorrow. Right now, I'm wallowing in real and mental anguish yet.

Letting Go

2009-11-13T13:03:00.002-07:00

Letting Go.
Easy to type, more difficult to accomplish.
Letting go of anger, letting go of anguish.
It's a Process.
Writing it has helped. Talking has helped. Your comments have helped more than you can know.
The sadness is now in my bones. I ache, I hurt. I don't feel like me. I feel, in fact, old. Or at least what I imagine 'old' must feel like.
It was hard to let go of my children this morning. I followed them into school and made excuses for hanging around. Good friends are taking them after school and that is a good thing; I can sleep this afternoon.
Grief. I'm not patient; I want these waves of grief to hurry up and be gone. But that's not what is going to happen, is it?
Thank you for sharing this time with me and my very dear friends who've suffered such a tremendous loss.

Remembering Robert, continued

2009-11-12T13:01:00.004-07:00

Ken and I adopted our sons from S. Korea over a 14-month period, and we got busy. I didn't visit Chicago as much, but was thrilled to show off our beautiful sons to our Chicago friends when we could. Since Robert and Pam's daughter Hannah was the same age as our two boys, getting together with them worked perfectly when we did visit Chicago. Pam was getting a graduate degree, and Robert was usually with Hannah when they would come to Stephen and Danusia's house.

I LOVED seeing Robert with Hannah and my sons! Robert, after all, was the 'old timer' parent - he had Matthew and Rebecca before our other three, and really had some practical advice.

Pamela graduated, and appeared more with Hannah. I was thrilled that she was on the same wave-length as me and changing their life to a cleaner/simpler earth-wise format. She shared her new cooking methods and new books she was reading with me, and I shared my new love of Feng Shui with her and Robert. All along, Robert was an interested and active participant as he was the stay-at-home parent while Pam worked on her career. I often thought "I want Pam's Life!" as she got to pursue her career dream and Robert did the majority of child care. Robert and I shared laundry tips, housekeeping issues and solutions and home remodel/repair angst.

Then Hannah found a niche - gymnastics! This young lady has a gift from God - her gymnastics ability. I believe she placed 8th on floor exercises in the Junior Olympics last year! Robert and Pam were amazed and humbled by Hannah's abilities. And, unbelievably, were not the typical 'stage parents' - I had to pry Hannah stories out of them.

This past summer, we made it to Chicago twice - me in June for my Godson Peter's high school graduation. I saw Robert and Pam only once as it was a 3 day trip. Luckily the boys and I went to Chicago again in August, and we spent a lot of time with Robert, Pam and Hannah.

Robert's son Matthew spent a good bit of time with us at the lake house and also on a sailing trip. Robert was so delighted in how great Matthew was turning out - in college, centered, and growing into a very good man. ""Any parent would be proud of a guy like Matthew" "He and Hannah are the light of my life" "Matthew is like a 30 year old in a 20 year old's body" and so many great things were expressed by Robert about his children. Stephen, Danusia and I kept Hannah overnight a few times during the August trip to help keep Parker and Ryan entertained. She had a Nintendo DS! She's athletic! For gosh sake, that girl is WORLDLY! The boys were in love with such a great 'cousin'. In fact, I told Parker Tuesday night that Robert had died. He cried and said "Oh, poor Hannah! She is gonna miss that daddy, Mom!" I held him and said "Yes, we will have to be extra kind to Hannah when we see her." The first thing Parker said to Ryan when they got up the next morning and Parker crawled into bed with Ryan and me (Ryan always gets up first and crawls in bed with us) was "Ryan, you know Hannah, that girl with the DS in Chicago? Her daddy died yesterday." Ryan said "Oh gosh, that it awful. That poor girl. Are we going to Chicago, Mom?" I said I didn't know.

Stephen, Robert and I went out to dinner at Carnivale and I maybe had the best dinner in recent memory. Robert was so fun at that dinner. We shared some stories and he planned a winter trip to bring Pam and Hannah to see us in Colorado. You were going to visit us! You promised!

Robert, I am so astonished - you had never looked better or happier in your life the last time I saw you. You had a great life. You gave it up.

The priest says your death is the very definition of someone stepping outside of themselves, being 'beside themselves with anguish'. Never in a million years did anyone of us see it coming. I will never understand why you killed yourself. I just hope your wife and children can forgive you one day. I don't know if I can.

Remembering Robert

2009-11-11T18:03:00.007-07:00

My dear friend Robert died yesterday. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

I still cannot believe it.

The first time I met Robert was at the wedding of his older sister, Carole. This was a wedding of great pageantry and many people; I was attending as a guest of his brother Stephen, and remember that as one of the best events I've ever been to. All of Robert's brothers, their dates and I went out on the town in New York City for days. It would be completely honest to say I was in NYC for 4 days and 1 night as I only slept one night! It was 1987, I think.

Robert was then married to his first wife and didn't have children yet. Twenty years ago brought forth his first child, Matthew and a few years after that his daughter Rebecca was born. I kept up with Robert through Stephen (who has been one of my best friends for over 25 years, after we decided that being romantic wasn't working for us, but being very good friends was a great idea).

The next time I saw Robert was at his brother Stephen's wedding in Chicago, another over-the-top event where six different friends stayed at a lake property outside of Chicago and ended up having a Big Chill kind of stay, complete with running, drinking and soul searching. I remember being glad to run into Robert and his wife at each party for Stephen's wedding and at the many casual events at the lake property, which Robert, Stephen and their siblings had inherited after their parents' deaths in the 1980's.

Stephen and his dear wife, Danusia, became my best friends over the years since their wedding. I have spent Christmas holidays at their home, as well as many weeks in summer and fall and am their children's unofficial GodMother. Each time I went to Chicago to see Stephen and Danusia, Robert was featured in some part of the trip. I grew to love his quiet humor, his exacting and careful methodology and his very calm and loving demeanor.

The only time I saw Robert seething with anger was when his first marriage disintegrated and the circumstances surrounding it. During those years, I saw a lot more of Robert when I visited Chicago to spend time with Stephen, Danusia and their boys. Sometimes Robert would have his two children with him, sometimes he would not. I remember thinking what a great daddy he was; how he spent quality time with those children and kept them shielded a bit where he could. One year I must've gone to Chicago five times, and Robert usually made an appearance a time or two while I was there. Sometimes other friends from the Big Chill weekend of Stephen and Danusia's wedding would fly in, and it would be an incredibly wonderful time. If it was summer, Robert would get out his boat, and take us all out for either motorboat tours on their local lakes or long sailboat excursions on Lake Michigan. I brought my niece a few times, and she was always thrilled when "Uncle Robert" showed up.

Robert met his second wife, Pam, on a sailing trip. I think Pam is 15 years younger than Robert. I adored Pam when I met her! A bunch of us had gone to a great Chicago restaurant, and Pam was glowing about her upcoming wedding. Robert was completely in love with Pam, and I envied them that kind of obvious devotion and happiness. I was in a relationship with my husband at that time, but we were still in the rocky 'figuring it out' period that frequently tanked other relationships in my past. I had been married once, divorced early and thought I would never marry again. But I still envied people who were planning a life together - it's what we;re supposed to do, right?!

I did not attend Robert and Pam's small wedding. Now I can't remember why, but I think it was a financial decision - my early 40's were lean years for me. I saw them frequently after that - nearly always at the big lake house, sometimes at holiday celebrations and I grew to love Pam as a good friend. They visited Ken and I in Colorado, and I continued to go to Chicago frequently, too. I always made a point of including Robert and Pam in any events we had in Chicago. (Chicago is all about huge parties when I visit - I like to cook for crowds.)

We were at Robert and Pam's Lake Geneva vacation home when Robert and Pam announced that they were expecting a baby in 6 months - and I was thrilled for them. Robert's children with his first wife were there, and were so excited about the news.

The next time I saw Robert and Pam, their beautiful baby was 4 months old. I had gotten married in the meantime, and has suffered a pretty bad miscarriage 2 months earlier. Some of the pictures I treasure are photos of Robert, Pam and myself with their lovely dauther, Hannah. Robert was so concerned that it would be hard for me to hold Hannah when I had suffered such a loss, and that made me cry - not holding his delicious baby girl, but his concern for my feelings.

I can't write any more. I am cryinig too hard. Good night and I'll finish tomorrow.

No post tonight.

2009-11-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

A dear friend has died. I cannot get my head around it.

Dad Diaries: #9

2009-11-09T22:14:00.003-07:00

Ireland was wonderful and definitely a trip I will always remember. But Greece a few years later was incredible.

My mother, recuperating from cancer treatment, decided to follow through with a summer-long trip Mom had planned to take with - you guessed it - Joan and myself. I was then 30, Joan 15. We left late May, and come back in early August, 1984. We flew into Germany and stayed a few days. I flew separately from Mom and Joan and went a few days early. I met a man named Uli on the airplane, and he introduced me to his great group of friends. Mom, Joan and I were included in many social gatherings with them, and even stayed by the Czech border (then still communist) at one of their nice, small resorts.

We traveled from Germany to Greece, then back to Germany where we drove to Switzerland and Italy. Daddy joined us in Greece for a few weeks. We toured all the usual things with great enthusiasm. When our taxi dropped us off at the National Museum, the taxi driver stuck his head out the window and queried; "Should I come back in an hour and a half to pick you back up?" to which my father quickly quipped "What? You think we're going to view the museum on ROLLER SKATES, for gosh sake?!!!" and turned on his heel in disgust. He was right - we ended up spending 4 hours there and still didn't see everything.

Then on the way out, I heard someone calling my name - it was a man we met on a tour before Daddy arrived. He invited us to a taverna to join him for a party, and unbelievable, my dad said we'd all go. We had a blast! We all even danced at the end, complete with the waving hankies. My dad had too much ouzo! My mother got miffed at something (she'd had too much wine) and said something snippy. My dad gave her the finger! Joan and I gasped in amazement! This had never before happened; this is a man who never even cursed!

The next day, Mom was still mad at Dad. We were planning to take a hydrofoil and tour the Islands, soak up some beach time. Daddy, Joan and I set out. We took a bus first, and met some lovely Irish girls who had just arrived from Rome. They were exclaiming about getting their 'bums pinched, even in the Vatican, THE VATICAN FOR gosh sake!' and my dad was trying not to laugh out loud in front of them. We arrived at the pier to catch the ferry, and someone again called my name and waved - another fellow we'd met on a tour. My dad said "Oh, Christmas; this one looks chatty!" and he was right. Luckily, he was going to a different island or I swear my father was going to get off the boat. The fellow chatted our ears off, quizzed us about our future plans and my dad cut me off during an explanation "We're going to be doing family things, young man!" and that was that.

We got to our destination still early in the day, gathered up personal items and walked down to the beach. We had our suits on under our clothing, so we picked a nice spot and spread out. Joan and I flopped down but my dad stayed sitting up, just enjoying the view. It was gorgeous.

After a while, I started reading. That went on for awhile and Daddy offered to go buy some lunch. Joan and I gave him some lunch ideas and went back to dozing and reading. Daddy came back with yummy food and sodas and Joan and I sat up. And immediately noticed that we were, in fact, on a topless beach.

Joan and I had taken our father to a topless beach.

I immediately felt like an idiot in my one piece. I told Joan that I might feel more comfortable if I rolled down my top. My father sputtered in horror "You are absolutely NOT going to remove your top! Well, that-that-THAT would look STUPID!" I busted out laughing so hard I was crying. The look of horror on his face was priceless.

We enjoyed our lunch. Then I poked Joan in the ribs and whispered: "Look at Daddy!" The man was trying to surreptitiously watch all the beautiful bare-breasted girls around us. But once in a while, a group of lovely German girls would trot down the hill to the beach and the man, really quite a prude and extremely shy, could not help himself: His head would bob with their lovely, bouncing breasts as they made their way down the beach to the water.

We stayed on that beach until my father was red as a lobster. Getting back on the bus to go to the pier to go back to Athens, my dad said "That was a Great idea, girls! What a wonderful day!" and Joan and I roared with laughter. When my mother asked why in the heck we had stayed 'til the man was toast, I airily said "Oh, there was so much to SEE, Mom; I didn't know but we took poor Dad to a nudie beach!"

For the life of me, I can't remember my mother's reaction.

Dad Diaries: #8

2009-11-09T08:46:00.003-07:00

We toured almost daily and hiked when we could. The roofs are torn off a few of the castles to avoid taxation, so some of the sites are quite dangerous. Did this stop us? Heck, No! Aunt Rita, attired in dresses, heels and accessories, led the way. Daddy had told Joan and I "No Blue Jeans!" for the trip, but we were dressed very casually.

One site was very remote and on a steep overlook. The wind was whistling through the open roof and windows. It was incredibly beautiful and we spent a long time there, poking around, pondering what life must've been like so many centuries ago. When we left, we got a bit turned around and ended up going through a marshy area. Joan, Uncle Billy and I followed Aunt Rita through a maze of high reeds, bushes and scruffy grass. Daddy decided to take the easy path - "Well, look at that road!" he exclaimed, and leaped wtih his long legs to get to it. Rita looked up and went to shout a warning - too late! Daddy had landed in a mud pit, and had to keep leaping to get out of it. Every step deposited a larger layer on his hiking shoes. By the time he got out of the muck, his shoes resembled cartoon boots - hugely oversized and heavy. He dragged them to firm ground and collapsed, laughing. It took us ten minutes to clean them up enough for him to get in the car.

Uncle Billy and Dad decided that we had to go pub crawling after that, as the only shoes Daddy had left were fancy dress shoes. Joan and I groaned about 'having' to go to the pubs - but were delighted once we got there. Who knew they would be full of attentive, handsome young men?! We played darts, listened to stories tumbling out one after another told in their charming accents and turned down many pints and cigarettes. Billy, Rita and Dad had to drag us out of every one of them.

Dad Diaries: #7

2009-11-07T15:51:00.003-07:00

Ireland is surrounded by the sea, which creates a richness of atmosphere and lush vegetation. Ireland is also a nation of stones. The endless grid of stone walled farm plots aren't there for decoration; they are one good way to use the stones from the fields.

Uncle Billy's charming little cottage has a stone wall, of course. It has a small plot of land, but not enough to farm, barely enough to garden. Since it is not a full-time residence, only perennial flowers are maintained.

Just a short walk down the lane is the sea. There is no beach - it is rocky and sometimes perilous. I had no knowledge of tides, so I didn't wander too far along the coast. Plus, I had my ever-present sidekick Joan with me, and she was only 12; not exactly the Age of Reason.

The neighbor closest to the sea also manages Uncle Billy's cottage for him, and they are good friends. She is a widow, and her sons were then 28 and 25 - beautiful young men who spoke mainly Erse. I wanted to spend some time on the sea, and her oldest offered to take me out one morning while he set their nets. We motored out on a choppy sea (he asked me "Ya don't get ill from the waves now, right?") and they tossed out tons of nets which they would haul in that night. Then we motored back. It was nice out there, listening to the lilt of Gaelic, the waves slapping the boat, the light of early morning. He told us to come back later that evening, and he would give us some fish for Uncle Billy to cook.

Joan and I wandered down the lane later that evening after a full day of touring, castle gazing and hiking. I was starving and rather grouchy. We arrived at the house of the fishermen, and the mother hands me a sack of beautiful fish - medium sized, gleaming and fresh. The sons are smiling behind her, and cleaning piles of fish. We thanked them profusely and head back down the rock wall lined lane. It has gotten really dark in the time we have meandered back and forth, really surprisingly dark. There are no lights on the path; this is country property, not city streets. I am thankful that Billy wisely handed me a flashlight as we headed out.

Suddenly Joan, who had been skipping around with the sack of fish, yelped "What's that sound?!" and stood dead still. There was a definite rustling in the vines on the rock wall. I hissed "IT'S RATS!" and Joan jumped about a foot in the air, terror on her face. Then I added the hammer: "And - THE RATS ARE AFTER THE FISH!" Joan screamed and took off running, holding the fish straight-armed out in front of her, heels thudding on the packed dirt road. She beat me to the house by a good two minutes, even though I am running, too. I cannot run fast as I am laughing so hard! As I get near the cottage, I hear Billy assuring Joan that he has never heard of rats leaping onto bags of fish whilst strolling down a lane, but that he supposed she used good judgment to run her lungs out. I opened the door and busted out laughing anew. Joan's hair was standing out like a lambswool duster, her cheeks were bright pink and she was sweating bullets from the exertion of her sprint.

The fish were divine. Served with - what else - potatoes and a green salad.

Dad Diaries: #6

2009-11-06T09:13:00.003-07:00

I left you in Shannon, Ireland, drinking black and tans...

My Aunt Rita and Uncle Billy, parents of 9, arrive in Shannon and we begin our journey to a small village near Youghal, where Billy inherited a nice cottage by the sea. We arrive, and Joan and I are in HEAVEN - the place is cosy, and has a large, fenced yard with -- CHICKENS! These chickens are so friendly, we can hold them. They will follow us into the house. These wonderful, fat chickens provide us with lovely eggs every day. There is also a big yellow lab from down the lane who visits frequently. He is given tasty tidbits from our plates. Neither my aunt, uncle or Dad say a word about this dog or the chickens frequently in the house.

The huge fireplace in the kitchen is what heated the house. There was a mechanical bellows that assisted with creating a good blaze. Joan sets to getting the fire going, with my direction, first morning there. I neglect to actually light the kindling, and she works up quite a sweat before I say "Oh! I guess we better light the wood!"

May I just say a few words about my love of rashers of bacon? Oh yummy, this bacon from Ireland. It's from the back v. the belly as in America, and is so much leaner. We polished off pounds of the stuff. Joan and I would shoot out of bed, scramble into our clothes and run out to the chickens. They were waiting in their hen house and we quickly got brave enough to reach under their toasty bellies and get the eggs. We'd run the eggs into the house and then play with the chicken for a while. We'd cook up the bacon and a dozen eggs every day, and I remember my dad expressing a great love of those eggs. In fact, he was asking Rita if she'd successfully carted any home in their luggage. She said "Oh yes, in socks!" and he was planning to do just that. He loved those eggs that much.

After a couple of days, Joan and I found if we turned over the big garden stones, the chicken would grab the big grubs and any bugs under them. Well, one morning, Daddy comes out with his cup of tea, stretching and remarking what a glorious day it was. He didn't notice what we were doing at first. Suddenly he squawked "Oh NO! Is that what these chickens have been eating?!" He declined to have any eggs that day and for the rest of the trip!

Next up: A Fishing Story

Dad Diaries: #5

2009-11-05T16:02:00.003-07:00

Dad took my sister Joan and I to Ireland when I was 27 and Joan was 12, in May of 1980. Who knows what prompted him to set up this 'quality' time with Joan and I, but my mother very wisely declined to go.

Daddy worked for United Air Lines from 1965 - 1995. The entire family benefitted tremendously by his employment; not just monetarily, but the trips - Oh the TRIPS! We flew as non-revenue, space available passengers. Back in the 1970's and 80's travel was quite nice. They had not started squeezing the passengers like cattle into smaller and smaller spaces. There was food! You won't believe this, but there was room enough between your legs and the seat in front of you for someone to walk to their seat! I know! We frequently flew first class, and I'm telling you; it was really something back in the 1970's. For one thing, you dressed nicely to fly. Everyone was in business attire. You were served juice before take-off. A huge roast would be wheeled out and carved right in front of your nose. Seems incredible now, doesn't it?!

For the Ireland trip in 1980, the first leg of the journey was uneventful. We landed in New York to catch the connecting flight to Shannon, Ireland. Daddy came back from the ticketing agent sporting a Cheshire Cat grin. "I've gotten us great seats, girls!" he exclaimed, taking his seat in the waiting area. I looked up from my book and said "Great! Maybe I can sleep!" We get on the airplane, and sure enough, our seats are great. First row of bulkhead coach seats, first 3 seats in the center row of 5 seats. The plane continues to fill up. Amazing amounts of people are sliding through the doors! We think we have really scored - nobody takes the other 2 sets in our middle row!

Just then, a family with 7 kids blows into the plane. Their seats are all over the place, and the dad immediately grabs the 2 bulkhead seats for himself and one of the oldest sons. The mom trails behind, struggling with young children. Their youngest son, around 4 or 5 probably, starts screaming and crying, wanting to sit with his father. The child is beside himself crying, so I offer up my seat - the other available seat is 3 rows back, and on an aisle. The little boy gets into my seat before I'm even all the way out, and the father and mother are so grateful. My sister immediately says "Oh NO! Daddy will give us HIS seat because we are sitting together!" My dad sighs, gets up and goes to sit back in cockroach alley. For 8 hours. Joan and I are happy as larks in our plenty-of-legroom seats. I sleep, as does she - with the little guy slumped on her shoulder.

We deplane in Shannon, and take a taxi to a hotel. We're spending one day there, waiting for my Aunt Rita and Uncle Billy to arrive. From there, we'll go to their summer house on the ocean on the South. We open the hotel door and take stock of the room. Rather seedy, but we are just going to sleep and then get on our way the next day. Joan and I try out a bed each. Dad plops his suitcase down on the one closest to the door. I sit on the bed I've chosen, and the thing about tips over! Turns out one leg is shorter than the others. I yelp "We have to change rooms, this bed is busted!" and dear old daddy sighs and says "Look for a phone book. I'm taking that bed." I find a phone book, hand it to him and it raises the bed about half of what it needs. He crawls in and says "No sneaking out into the bars while I'm asleep."

Joan and I looked at each other. Hey - we had not even thought about going out! Of course, the minute he's snoring, our feet hit the floor. We went into the hotel lobby and I try to order me a beer and Joan a coke. The barkeep wags a finger and says "Only WHOOOOORES come into a bar without a man. I saw you girls check in with your Da. If you want something from this bar, you go get your da!" and that was that. So we went back up and went to bed. The next morning, Daddy said "Well, did you get a beer?" And I said "No! They don't serve women beer here unless they have a man with them." Dad said "Kiddo, we're in a different country now. That's your first lesson. But if you want a black and tan, I'll take you later. And he did. It was 'meh'. Haven't had one since.

Writing this, I can remember the smells of Ireland. I think of a place there, and I smell it. The sea is commanding when you live in the desert.

This will take a few entries. We spent a long time there, and it was so special. Of course, I did not know that until years later.

Dad Diaries: #4

2009-11-04T16:34:00.007-07:00

About once a day, I forget my dad has died. I will think "Oh, I've got to tell Daddy..." and then it hits. Again. The pain of the loss is more a familiar feeling, but not a friend. Will it ever be, as some say? I don't know.

Most of my father's eight brothers and sisters passed before him. He was the middle child, but fared better economically than most of them and therefore lived a lot longer. I have 65 first cousins on my father's side - those Irish are a prolific lot. We didn't visit Pittsburgh, where my father was born and reared, very often, but when we did it was a blast!

From the time I was 10 until about 24, we had a Cessna 182 (1950's taildragger) airplane. We flew from Colorado to Pennsylvania a couple of times when I was in junior high (that's what middle school was back in The Day). Daddy would give airplane rides to all the cousins, which meant my mother, sister and I 'got to' stay at the po-dunk airport for hours, Oh Joy. Luckily, that also meant the aunts and uncles were also at said po-dunk airport, along with their 9, 10 or 11 kids, so it's not like we were lacking for playmates. My dad would do touch and go's, zip around and fly over their houses, and come back down to pick up 4 more kids. After hours, he started insisting he was seeing the same kids again and again. The cousin would insist, "Nah, that was Gerry, Eric and Marty you took last time, not us!"

Then we'd decamp to one of the Aunt's houses for dinner. There would be piles upon mounds of food. Four chickens would come sailing out of the oven. The piles of spuds were astonishing. Loaves of bread and quarters of butter would disappear, but not the pitchers of milk; every aunt had the same rule: The first kid who poured a glass of milk had to pour for the entire table, including high chairs and hangers on! Before the meal had progressed too far, the uncle would stand up and count and say "Ok, ok, ok; YOU - you're not mine and I've already fed you twice this week - OUTTA HERE! - ok, ok, ok, ok, Um - Oh, you're ok (me and my sister), Ok, OK!" The kid he had dismissed would go "AW!" but leave the table, and reappear for dessert later.

It was exhausting and exciting being around the swarm. There was an insistence on manners and some quiet (ha!) at the dinner table, but otherwise, it was total chaos. And my sister and I loved the few times we got to go visit all those cousins. Later, I got to go spend summers in Pittsburgh.

But, that's another story...

The Dad Diaries: #3

2009-11-03T10:18:00.002-07:00

Growing up military is different from most families. You move around a lot, you change schools, sometimes mid-year; you have to adapt to different learning systems and you have to be able to make friends fast. One embarrassing leftover from moving so many places is that I instantly adapt speech patterns, accents and slang to whomever I'm speaking with, even to this day. If I'm in Chicago, I'm a Northsider. If we're in Asia, I'll start in with pigeonesque English. If I'm in Texas, my vowels are looooooooong and slooooooooooow. It's all about being 8 and surviving in a new situation.

The accent to which I default in times of anger is, God forgive me, Texan.

When I was almost 15, the acre lot next to my parents was still undeveloped. It was sporting tall grasses and weeds by mid summer, and was a source of aggravation for my dad. One late afternoon, we noticed some kids hanging around but thought nothing of it. That is, until smoke and flames started shooting up and the kids beat a hasty retreat. I was sitting on the patio reading when I heard my dad bellowing for help. I jumped up, barefooted and in shorts, and ran out to see what the commotion was about. I saw the flames jumping around in the grass, heading towards our house and seemingly nipping at my father's heels! My dad ran into our yard, grabbed a hose, turned on the water and sprinted towards the fire - only to be jerked nearly off his feet when the hose tangled. Dad yelped "Throw me more hose!" and I did just that - threw the entire tangled mess about 20 feet, turning the water gushing out of the hose to an old man's piddle stream. Daddy snarled, "Get out here and untangle this mess NOW." I whimpered that I was in bare feet, shorts, and - ALLERGIC TO WEEDS. Didn't matter - out I tromped, muttering under my breath and crying. The thistles stabbled me feet and legs, brambles were snarling in my long hair - and the hose was hopelessly twisted.

Daddy took over, and I fled back into the house. I washed off my hands and arms in the kitchen, then realized I needed to shower. I stomped back into the bedroom area, and spied my older sister sitting on her bed watching the entire situation play out from her window. I spat out in my rage-filled Texas Twang: "Who does Daddy think he is, the fucking far (fire) chief?!"

My mom poked her head out from the other bedroom and said "Watch your mouth, Miss..." and then her eyes about bugged out. My sister gasped and I started to turn -- just in time to notice that my father was right on my heels! I screamed and about fainted, and wet my pants right on the spot.

I forget what happened next. But forever after, when my dad would annoy my mother, sister or myself, one of us would mutter "Who does he think he is, the f'ing FAR CHIEF?!" and hilarity would ensue.

The Dad Diaries: #2

2009-11-02T21:22:00.002-07:00

Our sons loved my dad. He was their second daddy, their PopPop, as their own daddy travels so much.

What I miss every day about my dad is that he got each of my boys. He knew Parker needed a little bit of assurance and confidence building. He loved seeing Parker excel at reading, Taekwondo and art. Dad completely believed in Ryan's ability to soar beyond expectations. When I would be ready to run screaming from the house, I would call my dad. He would say "Well, of COURSE he reacted ______! Here's how that probably felt to him...." and he would gently tell me how I could better handle my little one, trapped nearly wordless in this world for so long, with respect and consideration for Ryan's many gifts.
Dad was always catching the boys doing something good, long before it was trendy.

Parker is 9 now, and Ryan 8. They were 8 and 7 when Dad died, and got to go to the visitation, the party at my parents' house afterward and the funeral. They wrote letters to PopPop to read at the eulogy. The letters were read by my youngest sister's husband, as we were all too emotional to read them.

Ryan's letter was lovely. He told PopPop how much he was going to miss him and how much he loved him. Ryan mentioned trips that would happen in a few weeks without him and that he felt badly about that. Ryan told my dad that he would love him forever.
Parker's letter made the entire church cry. He said he loved PopPop and would miss him terribly. Then he said that he knew PopPop was not far away as Heaven was in everyone's heart, and that was where PopPop was now. And that was a whole lot of heaven for everyone to love.

The Dad Diaries: The beginning

2009-11-01T13:05:00.004-07:00

My dad died 27 May 2009. The loss to our family is staggering as he was my sons' 2nd daddy. Their daddy travels alot, so their beloved PopPop and Nana came over often to help entertain. It was heaps of work for me as I then felt obliged to cook myself into a stupor for some ridiculous reason, and send them home with food for a few meals. Hey! They are elderly!
There is a post soon after Daddy's death a couple of entries down. I'm not going back to re-read it, and I can't remember how much I talked about Dad's dying. I'm not going to get all morose on your shoulder; the purpose of my coming out of hibernation for NaBloWriMo is to force myself to tell some of the adventures of living with my father for 55 years.

Which brings up another fact: YES! I am an OLD mother! I am now 56 and have 9 and 8 year old sons. My husband is 8 years younger than I. I would highly recommend it.

So, back to memory-land.
My father was an officer in the Air Force. We lived all over the world for the first 12 years of my life. If you get an opportunity to live overseas, anywhere, GRAB IT. I can tell you for a fact that you and your family will be better off for it.

We lived in Okinawa for 4 years. My family actually built a house on the island, but we moved into base housing (complete with live-in maid and gardener) within 1.5 years. The house Dad built was on a steep hill, on acreage, and we did have neighbors, albeit not in view. The house came with a surprise papasan. He showed up one day to garden and that was that. He also turned out to be a watchdog; stories started filtering in to my parents about neighbors' small appliances going missing. Turns out that it was the work of "stealie boys"; young men who would strip naked except for a mask, grease themselves with cooking oil so they could not be caught, sneak into a house and nick the irons, toasters, electric fry pans, etc, to sell on the street! One night we heard a heck of a racket outside and Papasan was getting dragged down the side of the hill; hanging on for dear life, by a nekkid, masked man! My Dad, who was stark naked himself, grabbed a couple of flyswatters and took off after them. He smacked that boy's back, haunches and backside a few times and that guy took off like a rocket down the hill. Papasan and Dad came back to the house, victorious. I stage whispered to my mom "Oh dear, Daddy forgot his panties, Mommy!" They got the neighbor's toaster and hand mixer to boot. And word got out among the Stealie Boys to avoid our hood; we had a crazy-ass WatchDad and a Papasan on alert.

A different Chicago vacation.

2009-08-20T20:10:00.004-06:00

Parker, Ryan and I travel to Chicago every year without the Dad. Ken spent his summers in Manhattan at his grandparents' apartment with his mother and siblings (no dad), and he considers this annual trip of ours to be our 'New York Summer'. So he has some time alone at home, which must be nice - I've never had that come to think of it.

This year was wonderful; the boys are old enough to leap:

ON trains

OFF diving boards

AROUND a 38' racing sailboat doing 8 knots easily

ON a trampoline barely in line of sight from a window,

OFF a rowboat into a lake and swim to shore. After dark.

Because - I've had a leap of faith. At 9 and 8, they are getting to be grown-up little boys.

There is very little arguing and misbehaving these days. They settle disagreements quickly between themselves and are still each other's best friend.

They proudly wear white button downs and properly tied neckties to events.

They are not spilling a drink at every meal, so they can now get something besides water. This is a Big Deal. They are using steak knives and cutting their own food with proper grips.

Both started back to school today. Parker told me he was fine and waved me off "Go check Ryan. He's bound to have an issue with something, Mom." Ken showed up so he waited with him. I think Parker was thrilled to see Ken there.

Ryan was glad to have me wait with him, but when I waltzed in with him into the building, he yelped "Oh, GOSH; you aren't coming IN, are You?!" and the two Special Ed aides laughed and one said "Time to let him go, Mom." So I let him trot off, all by himself. Then I sneaked in another door! He lit up when he found me, looking in through the classroom door, a few minutes later. He yelped "That is MY MOM!" and the other lurking parents smiled at me.

Second grade is still so very young. After waving to Ryan, I trotted off and helped wrangle 1st graders for an hour - getting their supplies peeled out of their paws and placed in their desk (why in the hell didn't most of the parents sharpen those pencils, as requested - ACK?!) and 2 of them were crying for a while. It was very sweet to see the other little ones try to comfort them, offering pats and tissues which of course made them cry all the more.

Anyway, Chicago was amazingly wonderful this year. We took the train into town. The adults ate at Carnivale, and the babysitter and kids ate at Oak Street Grill. They wouldn't come off the beach until 8:30, and took a cab to Carnivale to meet back with us around 10! We caught a really late train back, and the kids slept curled up like cats in the single upper seats. Ryan wouldn't wake up so I had to lug his heavy butt down the spiral stairway, knocking his noggin a few times. Still, he slept. I plunked him down on a big seat and ran back upstairs to wake up the other children. They staggered around like drunks - it was after midnight and they'd had a long day of sun and water.

We went to parties at homes with moats and mile-long driveways, where a distinguished, very old gentlemen told me I was beautiful. We partied at houses where I introduced Net Musique.com to the hosts and we danced our butts off in backyards and kitchens. We ate our weight in Polish deli goodies. We drove around in fancy old cars with the tops down and didn't care if our hair got trashed. We spent a day on Lake Michigan, sailing on a 38' racing sailboat, drinking and eating and just enjoying life. Feeling lucky to have such great friends. Loving that my Godsons are growing into such fine adults and going shopping at IKEA to get one set up for his college dorm.

But the thing that took my breath away was watching both our sons navigate easily in new situations; seamlessly blending in, tolerating huge changes in bedtimes and dinner times, not complaining about endless bug bites (25 one ONE LEG on Parker) or humidity and the expectation that they will happily do whatever. I don't remember any crying, in fact. A first. Ryan never "Lost It" once. And this is something I will treasure. Ryan has really turned a corner with his emotional stability.

WOOT! Semi-Annual Post!

2009-07-26T12:31:00.004-06:00

Oh, so what.
What has happened lately:

1. My dear Daddy, 81 years of age, died suddenly of massive heart failure. To say it has been sad, shocking, nearly unbearable is barely scratching the surface. He was my sons' 2nd daddy, as their daddy travels so much. My dad and mom went on almost all our vacations with us, with Ken joining as he could. We had 4 summer trips planned, and well - we're doing them but it is emotionally difficult for us. I will write more about this - what it is like to lose a parent - but quite honestly I am still Raw.

2. I've had to help my mother deal with a) a large property to manage, b) a charitable foundation to manage by ourselves, c)money stuff and d) purging old records. My father had kept every record. Want to know what they paid for their sofa in 1952? "Baker 'Jackson' curved-back, double pillow Sofa, upholstered in sage brocade with down pillows and extra-long fringe - $395.00" They have hand-written records from 1966 on the current house. You know, to compare utility bills from decade to decade *rolling eyes*. There are 25 years of military records. But it is her and my father's history that is being shredded like so much confetti and it is so terribly sad for her. So I try to be gentle and understanding, and let her hand me the documents to shred after she has hugged them and smelled them and cried a bit. Since they lived so many places, had so many homes, there are alot of Bygone Days to visit.

3. Bigger Boys have Bigger Lives. Cripes, how much more time could we possibly spend in the car?

4. Why do we suddenly have 8 bikes in the garage? Where in the hell did that red one come from?

5. Staying OUT of the sun has been easier for me this summer. It's been cold and raining, then super hot, now a bit rainy again.

6. I went wheat free in April. The fun of finding new food to eat has vamoosed, along with my will to go shopping for groceries. At first I dropped a bunch of weight, but now I'm doing the Poor Me eating of dark chocolate and ice cream because HEY! Those ARE wheat free items and isn't gluttony one of the steps of grief?! Yeah, I'm getting round, again.

7. There are Trips to go on and plan. The annual trips that both my parents attended in the past are difficult at first for all of us. My mother comes on some of them, but can't face others. We are still doing them, as Parker and Ryan are still so excited to go. But they cry because PopPop's not with us, too. And then we have to explain to friends at each different locale why PopPop's not with us this year.

8. Feeling like I lost a huge part of my heart. Will it grow back? I don't know. Daddy's only been gone 2 months (tomorrow) and I have to say I have lost a great deal of -- what to call it? Innocence? Naivete? Those aren't the right words! I swear I have lost something and some days I Just Want IT Back.

Transcending - Kelly Corrigan

2008-12-23T10:35:00.003-07:00

Transcending

From the woman who wrote The Middle Place
I thought it was a wonderful sentiment for the Holidays!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Lovely Kwanzaa or however you celebrate this season - I hope you and your families are happy and healthy.
And I hope 2009 is Better for All of Us.

Nicked

2008-12-16T12:53:00.002-07:00

Nicked from blackbird, who nicked from DaysGoBy:

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars. - Does lying out all night, unable to sleep on numerous occasions, count?

3. Played in a band Hey, I was the Go-Go dancer for my ex-husband's band.

4. Visited Hawaii a dozen times. First time in 1958. Last time in 2007

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity This year it's critical. So Many need HELP.

7. Been to Disneyland/world - It's okay, but the boys Love it. And it's close to their grandparents and cousins.

8. Climbed a mountain - A 14er, even.

9. Held a praying mantis. They are WONDERFUL, graceful, gentle bugs.

10. Sang a solo Again, ex-husband's band. I'd had plenty of liquor, what could be the harm *shudder* I was AWFUL!

11. Bungee jumped - I would maybe do this. Or parachute.

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. "Awesome and awe-inspiring."

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. Sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery.

15. Adopted a child. Just two and we're through.

16. Had food poisoning. The day youngest arrived, and for 2 days thereafter. I prayed for death.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables. And may again soon if economy gets any more in the Shitter.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France That is a SMALL painting!

20. Slept on an overnight train.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitch hiked. "No. There are certain things I still will not do because my father would find out. And kill me."

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. -

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone skinny dipping. Just a month or two ago - in my sister's pool.

27. Run a Marathon- are you mad??

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice With my mother and sister - the gondola driver sang opera and whacked turds or rats in the water - I asked him and he laughed "You don't wanna know, Lady!"

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. Hasn't EVERYONE who has kids?!

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - The Irish but not the Finns. Yet.

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - Best reason to visit Florence

41. Sung karaoke - and there's a reason I sing in the shower....

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.

47. Had your portrait painted.

48. Gone deep sea fishing. Exhausting but exhilirating

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud.

54. Gone to a drive-in theater.

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class - although never liked it, and don't remember much.

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter Really Noisy

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - Tery, my walking doll and my original Barbies.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London

77. Broken a bone - not yet (knocks on everything)

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper.

85. Read the entire Bible.

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox.

89. Saved someone’s life.

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous.

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Had a baby.

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone.

99. Been stung by a bee

Introducing...

2008-10-13T01:26:00.003-06:00

The NEW DOG!

We haven't named him yet - he's still with the litter and his mother. He's 5 weeks in these photos.
And he would be a blue merle Australian Shephard.

Coming Clean

2008-10-02T13:26:00.003-06:00

There are Some Things I've been keeping to myself.

1. I am President of a Foundation.
2. I am Treasurer of a scouting pack.
3. I volunteer probably 3 days a week at school, doing something.
4. The boys have 12 before or after school appointments between them every week. Some are therapy, some are sports, two are scouting related.
5. We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel.
6. Spouse is still traveling almost every other week.

Some days I am tired.
I still think I am the luckiest woman I know.

The TMI meme

2008-08-14T22:38:00.004-06:00

Stolen from Blackbird
(Geesh; it's been so long since I've linked, I spent 5 minutes figuring out how to link to bb)
Eye Color: 'My Eyes are the Color of Cold, Hard Cash'
Hair Color: Light and Medium Ash Brown with blonde streaks thanks to chlorinated pools and Coolibar clothing, so I can actually GO INTO THE SUN.
--Dyed or Natural: Dyed.
--Curly or Straight: Wavy, fine and thick.
Right- or Left-handed: Righty
Tan or Pale: Arms and neck tanned. The rest white as paste.
Jeans or Khakis: NYDJ - they rock.
Country, Rap, or Rock: Rock.
Heritage: Finn and Irish. Yes, I own a nasty-looking knife; Why do you ask?
Shoes you're wearing today: Tsonga
Your weakness(es): The Best Of at a Steal.
Car: 03 Honda Odyssey, 06 Audi A4, 96 Nissan Pathfinder
Your perfect pizza: My cheese/sausage.
Favorite color: Crisp light green or periwinkle
Favorite place: Curled up with my boys.
Goal you'd like to achieve: Successful kids.
Your most overused phrase(s): "You have 5 minutes ... "
Your thoughts first waking up: What's for breakfast?
Your best physical feature(s): My smile, my eyes.
Your bedtime: 12-1 a.m.
Your most missed memory: Ken's dad.
Pepsi or Coke: Water.
McDonald's or Burger King: Neither.
Single or group dates: Both.
Adidas or Nike: Keens.
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Neither.
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate.
Cappuccino or coffee: Dark roast with cream, please

DO YOU:
Smoke: Not since November, 1986.
Cuss: Yes, but never in front of children.
Have a boyfriend/girlfriend: K is my boyfriend.
Take a shower: Yes. Long, hot baths in winter.
Have a crush(es): Not right now.
Think you've been in love: Three times.
Want to get married: Third time's the charm.
Believe in yourself: Yes.
Believe in God: Yes.
Believe in your government: Ummmmmm.
Get motion sickness: No.
Think you're attractive: Yes.
Think you're a health freak: Off and On.
Get along with your parents: Yes.
Like thunderstorms: Love them.
IN THE PAST MONTH, HAVE YOU:
Drunk alcohol: No.
Gone on a date: No.
Gone to the mall: Yes.
Been on stage: Yes. Welcoming new parents.
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: No.
Eaten sushi: Yes.
Been dumped: No.
Gone skating: Yes.
Gone skinny dipping: No.
Stolen anything: No.

HAVE YOU EVER:
Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes.
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Not since July 5, 1990.
Been caught "doing something": Yes.
Been called a tease: No.
Gotten beaten up: Yes. Been the beatee and the beater.
Age you hope to be married: Any age is nice.
Number of children you'd like: Just 2 and we're through.
Describe your dream wedding: Don't personally like my own weddings.
What do you want to be when you grow up: A very, very old lady.

WHAT YOU LIKE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX:
Best eye color?: Light.
Best hair color?: Dark.
Short or long hair: Short.
Height: Medium. Works better for smokin' sex.
Best first date location: Hike.
Best first kiss location: Outdoors.

IN THE NUMBERS:
Number of people I could trust with my life: Many. I get in other people's cars, after all.
Number of CD's: 100's.
Number of piercings: Two.
Number of tattoos: None.
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: No idea.
Number of scars on my body: Three big ones. Numerous small ones.

My new favorite thing

2008-07-20T12:20:00.003-06:00

This collage painting is amazing in real life. I love it.
The Chinese artist used 2 school photos of the boys.
It arrived framed and ready to hang.
This is probably the nicest gift I've ever been given.

Questions of a Ponderous Nature:

2008-07-19T19:23:00.002-06:00

1) Why, tell me WHY, does my husband feel the need to reload the dishwasher for an hour, thereby fitting in every last sliver of a dish? Hmmmmmmmmm? He could hand wash those suckers that don't fit in the load in about 7 minutes. Seriously.
2) Why do my sons' bladders never need emptying in the nice, CLEAN, comfy confines of our abode, but the minute we're 10 minutes away, suddenly the wee-wee situation is an emergency?
3) I can be 2 floors away and turn on the computer (laptop). Suddenly, I am wearing 2 children! How do they know? The sound is turned off - are they astonished by the silence of me not doing anything? (One suddenly appeared just now. I'm 2 floors away, and the boys were playing a game! I rest my case.) (Oh and the bonus round! Here's the other one!) (Oh gees, they just came back, bearing CHOCOLATE! Lindt Dark, Chili. They win.)
4) Why is it the ONLY load that I need to be wrinkle-free out of the dryer, gets forgotten and left to hopelessly and seemingly permanently wrinkle? Thank God for the steam feature on the washer. Which adds another half an hour to the out-the-door looking decent scenario.
5) Why do I bother buying white shirts? Why?
6. Why does a 12-cup coffee maker seem to offer up 4 servings? Who drinks a thimble sized cup of coffee?!
7. How did our sons get so old and big? They were just little boys.
8. How does one decide the pros outweigh the cons of getting another dog?

Culture! We got Culture!

2008-06-23T10:42:00.003-06:00

Korean Culture Camp in Colorado is one of the best things for biracial families to attend. There is too much to go into, but the highlights were great classes for parents - InKAS and the Korean TIES program and the kids' grade-specific daily camps. The counselors are all adoptees too.
It's a beautiful, educational, fun and emotional 4 days. In fact, I'm still processing everything. So, let's see some photos!

Daddy and Ryan at Closing Ceremonies
My 3 guys after Fun N Games Night, Korean Culture Camp
Parker, Mom, Ryan
Parker the Hula Hoop Champ

Returning with News -

2008-06-02T17:08:00.004-06:00

Okay, it's not that big a deal.
But
Ken finally painted the front door.
And
finished my closet customization.
Do not faint.
He's been working on the closet since August 07.
The front door only took 2 weeks.

I KNOW.

So, I had to post photos of both for the unbelievers.
Hell Hath Frozen Over

Old Door
New Door

Blogging; or more specifically, the Lack Thereof

2008-05-18T15:49:00.006-06:00

Is it just me, or does quite a bit of the blogosphere seem a bit tired of it all?

Is blogging going to go the way of dot.coms?

My reason for the slowdown is that I am so involved with the boys' school. And also, rlfs - real-life friends.
I also called a halt to visiting any sites where the writers wrote endlessly about dire life circumstances, whether caused by fate, choice or desire. The fact that I could never help was depressing. So, why add to the world's woes and wring my hands on the sidelines? I've heard some sites referred to as 'train wrecks' - you know it's always going to be awful, yet you keep returning for another look. It was surprisingly hard to break off.
Another thing that happened was my hard drive died. While I was wrestling with that and the subsequent free fix from Dell (the only time we've purchased an extended warranty, and with 20 days left on the thing, it paid off in spades), I lost my bookmarks--the thread to so many. And as luck would have it, in the same period of time; friends from my past, people I've worked with or neighborhood friends took up the space. Coincidence? I don't know. But we're all benefitting from the renewed contact. Since Ken is out of town half of every month, the boys need more friends and outings to fill the void. And now we've filled up the empty slots quite nicely.

Along with the severe cut down on visiting blogs, I've taken it a step further. I'm slowing down on agressive driving, as two boys are watching my every move. If someone cuts me off, instead of yelling "HEY! Douchebag!" I now just give them extra room. I'm trying to listen more. For someone like me, who always has something to say, it's difficult. Especially since I'm 10 and sometimes 20 years older than my peer group with children. Sometimes I want to yelp "Oh for fuck's sake! You aren't even going to care about that in 10 years!" But the fact of the matter is they do care about that now. And it is important to them. So I listen and *gasp* sometimes don't even offer quick, off-the-cuff fixes! I know! Unbelievable. I have always believed in child rearing by benign neglect. My children can entertain themselves, anywhere, beautifully. But now that they're almost 7 and 8, they are funner. I want to read with them more, play more board games, go more places with them. Ryan's so much easier to take places so outings don't end with a cut-and-run scenario. These boys are FUN!

We've also had a run-in with some neighbors. But after much internal work, and some counsel from the police, my parents and the psychiatrist neighbors, I have Let It Go. The rest of the neighborhood is so irate at the other people that I am astonished and touched deeply by the outpouring of care. So what could have been a gotta-move situation has morphed into an explosion of care and concern from the neighborhood. People I have never met are patting my back at the supermarket, expressing their long distaste for the 'trailer trash' next door.

So, it's mostly Good around here, but I've lost the need to blog for right now. I will be back! I will keep reading the blogs I visit, either often or occasionally. And, by the way, if I haven't been visiting you lately, it's not necessarily that YOU were one of those 'train wrecks'. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOUR blog is fascinating and more uplifting than Church! Honestly!

Later, Gator.

In the "Can't Believe I said That" light:

2008-03-27T08:33:00.002-06:00

3 days ago, my mother: "Here is a blanket made from Alpaca. It's from ________. Keep it in the family, if you can."
3 days ago, myself: "This thing itches! I don't want it!"
Mom: "Take it anyway!"
Me: "Um, okay..." Shuffle off to the car, still insisting there is no place for this thing and it weighs a ton, blah blah blah.
Yesterday, my mother: "I'm giving you the large wooden bread board (HUGE is more like it) that Grandpa made for me. You make breads, pizza; you'll use it."
Yesterday, myself: "WHY ARE YOU GIVING AWAY YOUR STUFF? ARE YOU DYING?!"

4 X 4 Meme, shamelessly stolen from Blackbird

2008-03-21T11:40:00.002-06:00

4 Jobs I have had: Stock broker assistant, Law Clerk Manager, real estate agent, parent

4 Shows I watch: Deal or No Deal, Curious George, um - we don't watch much tv. Oh, occasionally a CSI but I don't know which one. One has Gary Sinese, one has a curly-haired Greek lady who used to play a doctor on TV (?)

4 Places I've been: Okinawa, Tuscany, Ireland, the Depths of Hell and Back Again

4 Food I like: Sushi, almost anything Thai, Pork, Lobster

4 Scents I like: My sons, my husband, conifers and pine trees, desserts in the oven

4 Sounds I like: Thunderstorms, my children's laughter, crashing waves, "I'm Home!"

4 Cars I've had: '59 Anglia, '66 Mustang, '78 BMW 3.0 Csi, '03 Odyssey. And a million inbetween. Only 2 have been new.

4 Things at Which I'm Good: Conversing, Humor, Cooking, Parenting. Not necessarily in that order.

Just Another Pap Smear Moment

2008-02-29T09:56:00.003-07:00

So, yesterday was my annual check up, forced upon me courtesy of the pharmaceutical industry. I like my doctor; she's all about alternative medicine and tries everything natural before whipping out the prescription pad. She also has her office in a converted bungalow which she remodeled with her own two hands. And her gay brother is her receptionist, and the guy is a scream (and totally nonintentional - he just is funny).
But -- pap smears are just Not Fun. Especially when you bring your very active 6 year old with you, WITH the portable DVD player and a current favorite movie. Trouble is, the boy zips through the movie double quick by fast forwarding to his favorite parts. Then he starts exploring. There is a lovely wrap-around porch that he is told by the receptionist brother he may visit. So he strolls around and sings and talks to himself. Then, he notices the exam room windows. So, just in case his mother might be in there, he raps out Shave-and-a-haircut two-bits very nicely, on the window; you know, just friendly like and because he is connected to his mother by ESP and great love. So, in the middle of my pelvic exam, I say to dear Dr. Gloria, who has a young son of her own, "May we pause here, and may I go rap back?" So up I jump, nekkid derriere and all, and give the dum-diddly-ump bump, bump bump right back to him. He yelps "MOMMY!" and all is right with his world.
And I hop back on the table and we get on with the business at hand.
And wouldn't you know, my blood pressure was better than it's been in 15 years.

Yahoo! Photos!

2008-02-12T13:56:00.001-07:00

Two boys and a gingerbread house

Ryan receiving 2nd place trophy for his pinewood derby car, cub scouts

Beautiful, yummy Valentine's Day gift from Paula

PopPop's birthday feast

Self portrait, lavender and Blue Dog

Okay, Okay

2008-02-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

Bec did it. The Quarterly post. I suppose I could scrape up a post out of the noise from the daily ditherings...

First off, if I would've known kids were so much fun, I truly would have done it so much earlier. The older they get, the more I like them. And my children ARE the best children on the planet. Their newest addiction is Pokemon. I like Pokemon. In fact, I love Pokemon. Ryan is able to communicate fully with any children also interested in Pokemon, which gives him confidence. I could go on and on about feeding addictions to encourage communications, from Thomas the Tank Engine, to Star Wars, to Webkinz, to Pokemon. I have no idea what the next frenzy will be. If you know, please don't tell me.
Winter here has been rather story book - most of the snow is falling in the mountains. We have actually been getting out and enjoying ourselves with all that Colorado has to offer. We took the Ski Train one Sunday. The club car we were in offered breakfast, snacks, drinks and a light supper on the way home! Yo - that's my idea of a train ride!
Ken continues to travel 2 weeks out of every month. Which translates to hiring house cleaners again and also eating out more. Both of which are nice necessities when you single parent for long periods of time. Instead of cleaning, I'm organizing. Well, in theory. I'm actually reading more. But, I have plans to start organizing. And that counts for something. These things have to start in one's head and travel down to the hands.
On the health front, Ryan has been found to be infested with Candida, necessitating a diet change for the entire household. Gone are sugar, vinegar and yeasted food items, which comprises a huge amount of our former daily offerings. Barbeque sauce? GONE. Bread? Of course GONE. Today while the house cleaners are here, we are running a marathon of errands, one of which is to take the entire family trolling down the aisles of Whole Foods to select some new foods. This may not be a fun trip. Finding things without any sugar seems to be the biggest challenge. Ah, the love humans have for the sweet things.
Next post will have photos. Check back quarterly...

True Love: Meet the Newest Appliance

2007-10-20T21:14:00.001-06:00

This may be the luckiest find of my life (well, besides my husband and children!).
Gagganau Oven
This oven retails around $5400. So how did we find one for less than a tenth of that price? A high-end appliance repair guy, that's how.

Sears was handling the installation of the dryer part of the stacked LG steam washer/dryer we purchased from them very poorly. The washer was installed when we requested. But the dryer had been in the garage, uninstalled, for almost 6 weeks and life was not good around here. Since the washer can handle a double load of clothing (YES! It's true!), the dryer to go with such a wonderous machine needs to effectively dry the same quantity. Well, my old gas dryer was making a wrinkled mess out of everything, etc. Sears kept insisting that we get a plumber out to do the gas hookup (the line was already there). So I told them they could jolly well come pick up everything; they sold me a set of appliances and we paid for installation and they needed to completely install the appliances! They had to call in their high-end installer, who is under contract with Gagganau, Miele, Bosch, Thermador, etc. and who can do any and all electrical and gas work necessary for the installation. So that's how I met Ed and his workers. Top-drawer - these guys show up with fancy trucks and trailers, with sorted bins of stuff and every possible tool! What a concept! They don't sit around scratching their gonads and grunting; they get right to work.
Turns out that makers of true high-end stuff only allow one, possibly two service calls before they just pull out the pesky unit and put in a brand new one. When Ed opened the trailer to get some tools, I saw a wondrous sight - a beautiful Gagganau oven strapped on a palatte. Seems this Gagganau oven didn't like its probe. It's had every board replaced, so is essentially new internally. The only problem is the probe. Yes, it's got a little dirt on it. But NO scratches, dinks or stains. I've never used an oven probe. I'm happy to roast the old fashioned way and use the instant-read thermometer! And no warranty, of course. So we have a 36" oven that will go under our 36" DCS gas cooktop (also bought at fire sale prices - there is a slight dent in one corner which will more than likely press out when it's installed over granite or silestone - and it's also stainless steel, which I don't like but that's what appliances are more often than not) that is also out in the garage, brand-new and waiting to be installed. And, we have a Vent-A-Hood out there, too. Ed said "I'd be happy to install all these for you when you're ready." He even gas us advice on how to change out the cabinets, and some ideas for the remodel.

Of course, Ed has a story. He has masters degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering, and was a working stiff until he invented and patented a bottle cap process that Coors Brewing and Ball canning and bottling division jointly purchased. So then Not-So-Old Ed didn't need to work anymore. He was still young, so he bought a Scuba Diving shop up in the mountains and he and his wife and kids ran that (still do). But he still wanted to do something, and his wife wanted him out of the house something fierce. He always had a passion for appliances, and when his high-end stuff wasn't installed properly, he offered to help out Miele with their installs. They trained him, and other companies snapped him up, too.

Our double oven unit is going toes up any day. The bottom oven gave up the Ghost months ago. It's a cheap GE Profile unit, and they are awful. The thing spits out steam and boiling water when you cook anything moist in it, and it cooks unevenly. So Ed took the measurements and he and his employee talked. There is a new Thermador triple unit that has a m-wave on top, convection oven in middle and warming drawer underneath that would fit Like A Glove in the GE's spot. Pray that somebody buys one and the installers muck up the installation as they normally do (Ed only comes in as the WolfMan clean up guy, think Harvey Keitel character in Pulp Fiction. He comes in when there's problems) and we miraculously get a Thermador triple unit, barely used, at a 10th of the price.
Thermador Triple Oven
A Girl Can Dream, right?!

Feeding 80/The Hannukah of Birthdays

2007-10-12T07:02:00.000-06:00

This could also read 'Feeling 80' at the moment. Because? Last night we fed 80 people. In one and a half hours. And I only have one small saucepan of curry left.
Some background: Our neighborhood features a K-8 school. This year, there are over 1000 kiddos registered and attending. So, a staff of around 80 services the school. It is an English as a Second Language (ESL) specialty school, as our population here is 17% Asian - Engineers imported from China, South Korea, India, Japan and other Pacific Rim countries. We have children who speak NO English in classrooms. Volunteers from the neighborhood, and older students fluent in the language, help out in the classrooms. Anyway, it is a superb school; and after some cage rattling, I am very happy with the level of Special Needs services Ryan is receiving to help with his speech difficulties.
Unfortunately, last year the school had a snafu with District PTA and our school's attempt to set up a 501.c.3 separate from the PTA for fundraising. Why would a school set up another 501.c.3 (tax exempt) fundraising vehicle, you may ask? Because District and National PTA could possibly direct how your very own school can spend the money, that's why. For example, spending the money on salaries for paraprofessionals to assist with teaching and pupil management might not be okay with District. And other spending might be ix-nayed. And why should ANY entity that is not directly affected by decisions be allowed involvement in the decision-making process, we asked. So, we are allowing PTA to die a slow, and now painful, death. We spent all the money in the PTA accounts to drain it down last year. However, PTA directors and school officials could not tell the rest of us what really happened. Our school district Big Cheeses obviously told them to keep mum about it. It meant that disorganization and confusion were rampant in the school. And volunteers were not organized as our former PTA people were and are understandably jaded, and have been unfairly accused of 'having an agenda'. Puhlease.
Last year, the rumor mill started up in rare form. "Teachers are quitting over this PTA fiasco!", "Our students won't get to do the 5th-grade trip (camping for 2 nights and some team-building stuff to prepare them for middle school), and all our Field Trips are at risk!" "National PTA is going to SUE US!"
All not true.
But what that kind of gossip and doomsday predicting can do, in the end, is affect how the community looks on your school. It will eventually start to hurt property values! PEOPLE - THINK!
Some parents are trying very hard to renew school spirit, for lack of a better term. One group has begun a landscape refurbishing that gave the school a pretty astonishing face lift overnight. There are other groups that are going full steam with the new 501.c.3 and other good things. And I offered to do the one thing I can do - I can feed large groups pretty easily.
So, during Parent/Teacher conferences this week and next, the parents are feeding our school staff of 80 lovely, home-cooked meals. Last night I made two kinds of currty, Thai and Indian, and other parents brought all the sides. And they were yummy! Authentic family recipies, eagerly and lovingly prepared for a staff we are lucky to have serving our neighborhood. And I can't wait to tell all the other parents who helped last night that our dinner got a standing ovation from the teachers and staff.

Now, about the Hannukah of Birthdays. My birthday was a week ago. I have always felt "Why celebrate only one day?" I celebrate the entire month of October! Many lunches out, many celebratory walks and trips. It's a beautiful time of year to get out and about with friends. So I use my birthday as an excuse to see my friends.

Some Days

2007-09-22T19:22:00.000-06:00

Some days are lovely.
The weather is perfect.
The children are completely self-entertaining and especially sweet.
There is a suitable diversion in which both parents and children thoroughly enjoy themselves.
The food is top drawer. Everything comes out looking like the photo in the cookbook.

Today was such a day.

We spent a good portion of it at a gymnastics birthday party that was infused with autistic children and their parents. Ryan's quirky behavior didn't even register on the radar. The food the parents served was nutritious and beautifully plated. And all the gifts were developmentally correct! Even ours - we have been giving a Klutz toy lately that is usually a hit with the 6-9 set.

But the Very Best part for me was the parents. They understand and agree when I say "Ryan has been the biggest gift of our lives. And a great part of the benefit of having a Ryan is the parents of other special needs kids you meet along the way."

Then tonight we had a Time of it. And I had to remind myself "This is a Gift. This is a Gift. This is a Gift." Ryan needs more processing time. And by 8 at night, I'm all out of patience.

Reading, but not commenting

2007-09-09T10:59:00.000-06:00

Really. I am reading all my normal daily visiting places. I'm just too busy to comment. And too tired. Because? Ken and I stayed up until 3:20 a.m. YES - A.M.! watching Pride and Prejudice, a mini series that was 6 hours in length.
Oy.

It's finally happened -

2007-09-07T21:15:00.001-06:00

I've officially turned the corner and become a complete Laundry Snob.
We bought the LG Tromm Steam Washer and dryer. And we're going to stack them.
The fellow at the Great Indoors attempted to talk us into the brand new Sears HE steam washer, but no - we know the LG will fit in the space and we already did the research, etc. etc.
This is what becomes possible after one's spouse buys a sports car. Fancier appliances. And I'm fine with that.

First day of School - Photos!

2007-09-01T11:58:00.001-06:00

Parker and Ryan in front of Parker's classroom

Parker and his DESK! Loaded up, even!

Ryan first day of Kindergarten

Parker first day of First Grade

The School Boys!

Busy As Bees We Are

2007-08-30T07:27:00.000-06:00

Firmly planted in Week Two of school. I am delighted to report that all seems well with Parker and Ryan. There were enormous fears -- of the lunchroom, of all things -- on the part of the boys, and of the playground, on my part. So Ryan and I have been having a lot of snacks with Parker in the cafetorium (doesn't that sound like a devine place to be buried?), and we've been shuffling our feet on the playground along with piles of children, one of whom is our very own Parker. Parker and Ryan seem to have no trepidation regarding the hectic swarm of all-age children on the playground, the lack of fencing, the parking lot nearby with possible child-snatchers lurking in every corner. No, it's Me. And 3 other parents. So we collect our Volunteer badges and park ourselves in sections that seems under supervised, and try to actually Keep Watch v. just riveting eyes on our very own little darlings.

About the time Parker's first recess is over, it's time for Ryan to decamp to kindergarten, fully exercised and bright of eye and spirit. And I ask our energetic kindy teacher "Do you need my help today?" A foolish question. So I stay and do all those things that having 90 eager little learners entail. Much shuffling of paper, assembling of packets, setting up of display walls which all of us parents will eagerly scan, looking for signs of adorable art and literary work.

Too busy to even shop for food, in fact, since Ken is out of town and I dread shopping with the boys. They hang on to the cart, pulling it every which way, dash off in front of other carts to procure tasty tidbits (most of which is ix-nayed - never mind, they try anyway) and are general nuisances. I had to take Ryan today. We were out of too much stuff. The store was pretty empty. And wouldn't you know; not once or twice but three times, another parent with their annoying child kept blocking our way to get places. This woman was oblivious to anyone else in the store. Her daughter (who looked 4 or older) was spitting into her hands and drawing with the saliva - broad slashes with her palms! BEYOND DISGUSTING. I thought 'certainly even this clueless mother can't be aware her child is doing such an incredibly nasty thing', so I took the liberty of gently informing her "Your little one is spitting in her palm and marking territory..." with an Ikea Anna wry smile for emphasis. And do you know what that lovely woman retorted? "So What! Mind your own business!" So I said "Oh dear, I guess I better call management over to monitor the situation." And I did. And guess what? She stormed out of the store, abandoning her cart and snapping and snarling at her daughter. Oh dear. I'll probably end up on the PTO with her at some point and she'll have it in for me.

Let's see; what else...

Back to School is tonight. The Parental Units are coming over to entertain the boys as the husband he is gone. Have to shoe-horn Taekwondo in there somewhere before dinner and after school. Ai Yi Yi.

Taking a break!

2007-08-23T06:14:00.000-06:00

I'm off today to Las Vegas to visit my sister. She has a few fun things planned - an immediate visit to the Dim Sum place upon my arrival, shopping the next day with a lunch at Bellagio, swimming on Lake Mead on Saturday and possibly a show in there some time as well. But, more importantly, there is down time in there for me! She is going to work out and/or ride her horse, leaving me to rest, read or whatever.
A L O N E.
ALONE!

Doesn't this sound like heaven? I love my family. And I'll love them even more after catching a break!

I feel strange

2007-08-19T21:27:00.000-06:00

Ryan resting at Left Hand lake.

Ryan starts kindergarten tomorrow.
I feel strange - not sad, not worried; just-strange.
How can our youngest child be in kindergarten already? Never mind that he is 6, has lost 5 teeth (while his older brother remains a Tooth Virgin) and may tower over his classmates - he is young. His kindy teacher came to the house to meet all of us this past Friday. Ryan hauled her up to his room and showed her his treasures - his tooth fairy box and his books. Our speech therapist was here too, and they chatted out at their cars for awhile. I always wonder if the therapists say "Ryan is doing great but that mother is an eternal annoyance."

Parker at Left Hand lake.

Parker is entering first grade tomorrow. For some reason, I am fine with this. We have the obligatory New Lunch Box, complete with metal water bottle and re-usable environmentally friendly containers. In which I may even occasionally pack a healthy lunch. We have $100's of new school supplies, which have already been dropped off and loaded into his New Desk. Yes, one gets their very own desk in first grade. And their own supplies. Had I known that, I would have labeled every blasted pencil. Not because they are special; because those fuckers are SHARPENED. Do you know how long it takes to sharpen thirty-six #2 pencils?

We don't have new clothes, or new haircuts. We'll get those in early September. Maybe then stuff will be less expensive, and school photos are end of September. Even a bad haircut looks good after 2 weeks, so we'll get those haircuts 1st or 2nd week in September.

I hope to snap some photos tomorrow morning. I'm letting the boys pick their own outfits -- please take that into account as you look at the photos!

Summer Vacation, Jammies all the time.

2007-08-13T23:05:00.000-06:00

Same day, different pjs.

GameCube Playing Styles, around noon today

Nightly reading in the Guest Room with Daddy, around 8:30 (okay, probably closer to 9 - we have to move up bed times THIS WEEK or the boys, they will be toast next week with the start of school... )

Honestly, the boys were dressed in street clothing for about 4 hours today. We were supposed to go to the library, but I was too tired. Today, for some unknown reason, I decided to try a new way of deep cleaning.
Slow Vacuuming.
Yes, you read that correctly. I, who does everything at lightning speed, decided that once a month I will vacuum very
s
l
o
w
l
y
to deep clean the carpeting. And my gosh the stuff I got out of the rugs. You should try it. Ken said it sounded like occasional popcorn. Of course, this took an extra hour.

I do fall cleaning. So now I will tackle baseboards, walls and cobwebs. I already cleaned woodwork, ceiling fans, cabinet fronts.

Could this post possibly be any more boring?

Finally, Fotos!

2007-08-13T10:56:00.000-06:00

Ryan, proving he can read anywhere

Ryan and Parker at the Club pool.

Ryan perching on a rock at Rainbow Lake

I have been lame to the extreme in my photo offerings of late. Again with the 'lost the cable' excuse. We have been taking video this summer and letting the boys capture their own shots with their digital cameras. And guess what? I have LOST THEIR CABLES! Grrrrrrr.

After Months of looking...

2007-08-11T09:06:00.000-06:00

We found a Master Bedroom Chest that we can both live with at

Of Course -

COSTCO!

Portomao Chest

We've purchased, and refused delivery of, a chest from Restoration Hardware. Horrid construction - It arrived with drawer glides snapped, drawers not closing, veneer peeling off the top and gouges out of the sides.

Then we found a Kincaid Magna Chest we thought might work; on further reflection we knew it wasn't 'fancy' enough for the cherry furniture that is in the master suite. We spent the next few weeks touring every furniture showroom in Denver; found chests we would consider from inexpensive ($300) to ridiculous ($15,000). Last night, I jokingly told Ken - "Hey, I bet we find the perfect chest where we find everything else - at Costco!" We had a good har de har about that, and then I went on line. And found perfect size chests in a few different pieces. Then I found it! All those weeks, driving around looking, thinking we were looking for the impossible.

I
Love
Costco

"I'm reading and too lazy to write"

2007-08-10T15:41:00.000-06:00

so here's something from unconscious mutterings

Voices ::

Have to ::

Machine ::

Seventh grade ::

Beach ::

Roommate ::

Cyclone ::

Theater ::

Pregnant ::

Phoebe ::

Mine:
Voices: In my head
Have to: Phone Sarah O.
Machine: Wash
Seventh grade: Bullshit
Beach: Bum
Roommate: Horrors
Cyclone: Twister
Theater: Tickets
Pregnant: Pause
Phoebe: Bird

A slice of perfection.

2007-07-29T07:39:00.000-06:00

No, not a foodie post.
A Family Day post. A "This Makes It All Worthwhile" post.

I don't often post about daily grind. Who wants to re-live that?! Sometimes I comment about parenting a child on the always-exciting Autism spectrum, but mostly out of anger with The System. (Which we abandoned long ago, and are now spending our future retirement funds on getting private therapies for our son. And which has made all the difference in his very being.)
But this post? This is a post about our oldest son, Parker. He is an Average Child. Average height, average strengths in school, average in alot of measurements of physical and mental achievements. Which is wonderful. I am learning that Average is EASY. Where he soars above the crowd is when he practices and exhibits the martial art of Tae kwon do.
Yesterday, Parker tested for his blue belt. His form was so flawless in his execution - even when he faltered - that the crowd was absolutely silent. Another parent whispered to us "He is really an exquisite child." And my heart nearly burst.
Two other classmates of Parker's now attend tae kwon do with him, and one of the boys tested with Parker yesterday. It was wonderful to see his parents at their first belt testing, to know the emotions that they were feeling, and to be ecstatic with them when their son executed his form successfully and snapped his board with the first kick. We went out to dinner afterward, and people oh'd and ah'd when the 2 little dudes waltzed in in their tae kwon do uniforms. (Okay, there were three additional very cute kids in the group...and at least one person might have been admiring the baby or the exceptionally beautiful little girl in the group). We were given the party room, and for the first time in their lives, our sons were allowed to run wild around a room while eating dinner out. The adults were able to have a good, long chat, unfettered with parenting children aged 3 to 7. I had forgotten what it was like to have dinner out with kids and be able to actually carry on a conversation without "MOMMY!" interruptions. Then we all trotted over to our house, where dessert was served and the garden trains were put on the track and - gasp - the children were allowed to operate them for hours!
Of course, some things that were annoying at the time, now seem funny:
Ken is always dragging his ass when we leave the house. As in, I am about ready to start driving off and leaving him again if he doesn't stop making us late for everything. Parker was about having apoplexy in his booster, waiting for Daddy to come out of the house so we could drive off! So, of course we got there a bit late, as of course we got lost (it was at different studio this time). Ken barked as we finally neared the studio "You jump out and run in with Parker!" and me, being a literal type of person, started to open my door as he slowed, popped off my seat belt and stuck a foot out the door. With that, my husband spies a close parking space. Without telling the rest of us, he decides to zip into that space. I have a sandaled foot out the door on the asphalt! I have a hand firmly grasping an open door! Parker is standing at the ready at his sliding door! So we go from nearly stopped, to a goose of the engine and a turn! WHEEEEEEEEEEE! Parker and I are screaming our heads off - Parker is hanging on for dear life to his booster and the back of Ken's seat, and I am leaning out with the open door as it swings out into thin air, and sanding off the bottom of my expensive, made-in-South-Africa-by-native-women sandals! Ken quips "Oh! Sorry - I saw this close-in space... " and I say "Okay! We're Here! Parker jump out!" and that was the end of it - I trot into the studio, smoking sandal and all, and get the traumatized child into the lineup.
Then, in our absorbed adoration of watching Parker do his routine, we do not notice that Ryan was clicking his camera, with blinding flash, at the audience! He was blinding people as their children did their routines! We discouraged that behavior, so he then decided to play with duplo blocks in a hard plastic case, which made really annoying clunks and clanks while the masters are doing the verbal portion of the tests with each child so now the parents couldn't hear their child's responses. Oy.
But mostly, it was a Magic Day. The weather was cooler and a bit cloudy. The sunset was amazing - a Maxfield Parrish kind of evening. Even the mosquitoes left off for the evening. How lucky is that?!

The hair she's cut.

2007-07-28T10:11:00.001-06:00

And I am not liking it. Because I now am forced to spend time actually fixing hair. And I am not a hair-fixing type of person.
Photos to follow, maybe. I have not yet been able to fix the hair properly and may get it entirely cut off, very short.
So, not so happy. Plus, I swear I get weaker the day I get my hair cut.

I read the whole thing in 10 off/on hours SPOILERS IN COMMENTS

2007-07-22T08:43:00.001-06:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows arrived by post yesterday. Parker brought it in the house and I didn't see it until after 3:00 pm. I got in a couple of hours straight, then interrupted reading (Ken told the boys to quit with the GameCube, already, and promptly left me to deal with them - thanks, Honey!) for another hour and half. We went out to dinner (Noodles, one of our favorites), then for an after-dinner walk, then back home. I nestled in with my book and 2 boys leaping off and on my reading sofa in the master bedroom while they watched Pink Panther on tv. Ken joined them and they settled on the bed. Off to bed with the lot of them around 8:30, and it was just me and Harry. I attempted sleep around 12:30 am. Tossed and turned for an hour, and flipped the reading light back on around 1:30 am.
I finally put the book down around 3 am and slept like the dead. Strange dreams. The boys brought me 'bressist in bed'; a lovely, plated breakfast of 2 slices of toast, a knife, jam, napkin and a half cup of water 'So we won't spill it!' at 7:45 am. Parker cut one slice in half after I offered to share my breakfast with them. We ate in bed, heads bent over the tray to try to avoid crumbs in bed. I told them to find Daddy to ask him when he is going to make waffles, and leapt back out of bed to start reading again. They came back up, and to avoid pleas of GameCube (which they played for HOURS yesterday, so no GameCube today), I put on PBS and luckily, Curious George was featured. So, at 8:15, I again became lost in Harry's world. I was on page 726, so didn't have much left to read. I finished the book in half an hour, re-reading quite a bit as I went, tears streaming down my face at some points.

I am so sad that there will be no more Harry Potter books. They have kept me spellbound since 1998, when I read it aloud to my then 9 year old Godson, his 6 year old brother, and my 10 year old niece while on a trip to visit my Godson's family in Chicago.

These 7 books got the whole planet reading again. And that is a very, very good thing.

A little slice of heaven.

2007-07-21T11:35:00.000-06:00

It was a little slice of heaven.
This place Rainbow Lakes Resort.
Pictures to follow, which are on Ryan's camera and, well, we haven't quite found it yet! I know it's here, just - where?
The resort is above 9,200 feet, and features warm days and very chilly nights. I drove up with Parker, Ryan and my mother. Ken was in Florida, buy a car. A 2006 Audi A4 Cabriolet, in silver. With low miles, one owner, blah blah blah. (It has yet to be shipped so haven't seen it.) He and my father drove up on Saturday. Which left my mom and myself to set up camp, so to speak.
We did quite well, except for a couple of things:
1. We did not complete the equation that if one finds a small furnace in a cabin, there just might be a thermostat which controls said furnace somewhere about. And that it would be turned down below 50 degrees during the day...
2. We took the sign by the commode that read "Our septic system is fragile. Please do not flush any paper." Very. Seriously. As in - NO PAPER. which was fine with us, being diaper-changing women and all, but which threw the boys (and eventually, the grown men) for a Huge Loop. And which we found out from the resort owners was for a #1 case only - definitely not a #2 situation. In the meantime, my mother and I were doing a lot of boy butt-wiping and alot of triple-wrapping of toilet paper, etc. Yes, Ewwwwwwwwww. Thankfully, the men folk were simply NOT going #2 and were much, much relieved when we trotted back with the information "YES! We can flush paper for #2!" There was a stampede for the facilities after this pearl of news!
About the no-heat the first night: It got down below 50 in the cabin. WAY below 50. I put the boys in my bed and tried to sleep on the blow-up bed. Which of course, was the same temp as the air in the room - FREEZING! When we accidently found the thermostat the next morning, life became much better. And we felt duly humbled.
But as to the rest of the vacation? It was perfection. Long days filled with fishing, boating, hiking and snoozing. Tasty, simple meals prepared on a very tiny gas stove. I read 3 books in the 4 days we were there. And the great news is that I've continued reading since we've arrived home.
We just happened to drive into Buena Vista at 10 one morning, and there was a rodeo parade! Complete with tiny-car tooting and zooming monkey-hatted Shriners! (What happened to the Harleys on which they used to scoot?) And lots of kids on their groomed-to-the-nines ponies and horses, or tugging goats/alpacas/sheep/calves on ropes. So sweet. And crowds of really old folk clapping each other on the back, obviously friends for all their lives. Then a trip to a bakery that served up high quality baked goods - not easy over 8000 feet altitude. We purchased a few yummy treats to make mornings at the cabin special for the next few days.
There was lots of exploring, walking sticks to locate and customize on each hike, wildlife to discover (Deer! Elk! Beaver! Fish!) (Thank God no Bear or Cougar!) and at night - a bonfire to experience. We let the boys put sticks in the fire and then 'write' with the fiery end. They played around that bonfire for 3 hours and finally fell asleep on long log seats around the fire. We met people who had been coming to the lake for 45 years; people who had spent their honeymoon at the lake and conceived children at the lake; people who were first-timers like us and who also vowed to return annually.
And we will be returning annually. At least! We have reservations for next July and are considering making a long week-end reservation for September of this year when the aspens are changing.
We took some photos and lots of video. I will get around to editing this post with photos or posting anew with the photos

Reading, not writing

2007-07-19T10:11:00.001-06:00

We were on vacation for 4 days and I read 3 books. Since we've been home I've read 2. I Hate My Neck and The Wal-Mart Effect One made me laugh, one made me mad. Both made me think. Which is a Good Thing.
The Vacation Report will have to wait. Because?
I
Am
Reading

And yes, doing laundry.

We're OFF like dirty shirts!

2007-07-12T16:54:00.001-06:00

To a place I am hoping is a bit like summers of my youth:
Rainbow Lake Resort
I got a checkup and new paws on the minivan, and I've packed the sunscreen, skeeter repellant and star-gazing binoculars. We have light jackets, rain jackets and heavy jackets. Toys and books. I'm bringing a sewing craft, too. (hope springs eternal).
See you in a while!

Phone conversation today:

2007-07-09T22:15:00.000-06:00

Me: Wait a minute; I have to move to get better reception (while spinning around in Williams Sonoma, trying to hear better).
Her: Blah blah can't-hear-her-blah...
Me: Crap! My phone doesn't have any reception! Can you hear me? I can't hear you!
Her: blah blah *bling - crystal clear* Oh! I can hear you now. What happened?
Me: This phone is So Old. I mean it's the phone on Year 1 of Alias for gosh sake!
Her: Alias?
Me: Never mind - it was a spy tv show. Off the air now. Never saw how it ended the final year.
Her: Well, if you need a new phone, you should get one while Anne-Marie is there.
Me: What's that weird noise in the background? Sounds like an ad for a cell phone or something.
Her: Oh, that's the new cell phone! I hope nobody is texting me! I can't figure out how to retrieve text messages, and there they sit.
Me: Wait a minute; isn't that your family ring tone? Isn't that what they say on that ad...
Her: Oh, Yes! It's (her daughter)! I better get this...
Me: OK call me back...
Her: No, I'll tell her I'll call her back.
Me: SHIT! My phone just went dead!
*whacking the stuffing out of it on an upholstered chair in the mall*
Me: Are you there?
Her: What was that thumping noise?
Me: Beating my phone to make it work. Sometimes it just goes dead! But I don't want to get a new phone! We never learned how to use these phones and I found a text message from a couple of years ago on thing last week!
Her: Oh, I know what you mean! This new phone can do everything but stir the soup. And I only know how to turn the thing off and on and to answer calls. Last time I learned how to use the phone, (her husband) traded all our phones in and got new ones. Completely different. So I never learn how to run them anymore. I think you can take videos on this one, too.
Me: Hey, there's that ringing again. I swear, it's your family ring tone, or something.
Her: Oh, yes! It's (her husband). I'll let that one go to voice mail - oh I can't! I don't know how to retrieve messages yet! I'll be right back.
Me: SHIT! My phone went dead again! *Mercilessly whacking it on the upholstery, again*
Her: Are you there? Hello? Are you beating that phone again?! I'm telling you, you better get a new phone while you've got that 20 year old in the house. She can show you how to run it.
Me: Just what I need - to be able to text, take photos and drive all at the same time!
Her: Is that the same phone you were complaining about being so slippery you were constantly dropping it?
Me: YES!
Her: Do you mean you've had the same cell phone for 7 years?
Me: Yes.
Her: How do you get away with that?
Me: I know what you mean! It's great to have the same old phone. No learning curve. SHIT! It's dead, AGAIN! Oh, no, don't know what happened - Are you there?
Her: I should let you go.
Me: Yes, I have to get Anne-Marie something for her birthday. Hey, why did you call?
Her: Geesh, I can't remember.
Me: You know, maybe I'll stop by that phone kiosk around the corner...
Her: OH! I remember what it was! We have a new home phone number since (her husband) got the new phones. It's xxx-xxx-xxxx
Me: You called me right? I can just save it on my cell phone.
Her: Hey, that's right! I have to learn how to do that again. Oh, probably not! This phone is completely different from the old one.
Me: Can you believe we just spent (looking at phone) 22 minutes talking about our cell phones. Not how your trip to China was, or how my kids are. No. Our Stupid Cell Phones.
Her: I'll call you at home later. Then we can talk.
Me: SHIT MY PHONE IS DEAD. AGAIN. *drops slippery phone and it busts into 7 pieces this time*

And - I lost her new number as I can't put the phone back together. I guess I really will have to buy a new cell phone.

I met Lemony Sarah!

2007-07-09T20:21:00.000-06:00

Yes! The Lovely Sarah O, formerly of Chicago, now of Superior.
And she IS lovely.
And had her hair coiffed, some makeup on and was wearing a chic outfit.
I, on the other hand, had bathed. Other than that, I was wearing old play-with-kids clothing. Oh, and earrings.
She nibbled on her lunch. I wolfed down not only my share, but hers as well!
We discussed a surprising array of subjects. We haven't solved World Hunger or even figured out where they should do their banking. But given a few more meetings, and we just might.

We Have Succombed:

2007-07-05T21:10:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe it.
Ken and I have decided to purchase a Gamecube or some other such thing for Parker for his birthday.
Plus a couple of games.
Someone said "Forget the Gamecube! Get them Wii!"
I think NOT.
The first time I tried that Wii thing, I ended up nearly destroying someone's brand-spanking new plasma TV! The remote flew, FLEW, I tell you, out of my grasp and skidded across their TV screen. And the worst thing? I didn't get another turn! YES! The punishment, no matter whom, for such an indiscretion was not getting to play for the rest of the day.
So we are thinking Gamecube.
I have no idea about such things.
Do you have to buy extra memory for the thing?
Can I trust the salespeople at Best Buy or some other Biggish Box not to 'see me coming' and load me up like the true rube that I am?
Any and all advice greatly appreciated. The Big Day is the 10th. So only a few days to decide What To Do.
Thanks.

Amy Winehouse. sigh

2007-06-23T22:01:00.000-06:00

Does anybody else want to just grab this girl, snatch that godawful rat's nest off the top of her head, scrub her face with a washcloth and then:
TAKE HER TO A DENTIST? And then maybe a soup kitchen?!

ANAGRAM your name - aw, come on!

2007-06-20T09:48:00.000-06:00

My full name (well, excluding all those names I was bestowed by the Catholic Faith for promising to be Jesus' ForEvah) anagrams out to:

'I'm fair, rare maverick menace.'

Which, well, Duh - if you know me at all.

Were I to use my husband's surname, you ask?

"Feminine, Verbal Crack."

Try it!

http://www.anagramgenius.com/server.html

Teacher Goody Bags:

2007-06-02T19:25:00.000-06:00

Eight of these were assembled for Ryan's teachers and therapists:

Joke found them remaindered at Pottery Barn, and then put me in touch with a store that had what I needed. They were a HUGE HIT! I loaded the containers with travel sized Bath & Body Works stuff, plus some Aveda hand lotion and shower gel. I cello wrapped them, and then stuck chopsticks in the ribbon. The chopsticks have sentiments printed on them.

Six of these were assembled for Parker's teachers:

The bags hold about the same things as Ryan's, and a Starbucks coffee card - Parker's teachers are all coffee fiends.

The only picture that turned out from Parker's Kindergarten circus presentation:

A photo of Ryan, seated in the Peanut Gallery, towering over his peer group. Ah, but he's a Gentle Giant...

Travel Mapping

2007-06-01T07:43:00.000-06:00

The weirdest thought I've had in A Long Time:

2007-05-29T21:09:00.000-06:00

I was walking out of Target, with a cart full of clunky stuff - not loud, just a bit rythmically clunky. And what did I say to myself, out of the blue?
"This clunking sounds like I have Ben Wa balls in my pocket!"

BEN WA BALLS?
IN MY POCKET?

Do I own a set? NO!
Have a ever carried a pair around, in my pocket or otherwise?
NO.

I am losing my fucking mind.
I really can't wait for school to be over.

Memorial Day 2007 - A Day to Remember

2007-05-28T22:31:00.000-06:00

Riding Tony the Pony and The Trike

Making a caterpillar cake

Three Cousins, a/k/a The 3 Stooges

Two Real Smiles

Two cheesy smiles

Take a test - a DNA test

2007-05-26T18:19:00.001-06:00

My Personal Dna Report

I don't know about you, but

2007-05-21T08:27:00.000-06:00

I cannot wait for SummerTime to get here.
I am completely weary of our school routine. The morning playdates. The dash to get Ryan on the bus, fed, dressed and shod. Not always easy. The hour-later trek to get Parker through the kindergarten door with the Proper Paperwork - who knew there'd be So Much Paper for a kindergarten fellow?
But the real reason I'm fairly drooling in anticipation for summer?
ALL
Day
Summer
Camp!
YES! More than 1.5 hours all to myself!
Last summer I had lofty plans. My Gonna-Do list was astonishing in its proportions.
This year? I know better. All-day summer camp is only 18 days in 2007. And I am thinking I may just lay around and read.
Oh yeah; and there's Korean Culture Camp in June.
And Lake Buena Vista in July.
And trips to see family and friends in different States. Traveling with bigger kids is so much easier than the diaper bag/stroller days of not so long ago.
Ryan will still have 4 therapies a week. That won't change. But I am so looking forward to hanging out at the lake and pools; visiting the new Sonic drive-in that looks like it will open soon and firing up the barbeque almost every day.
We are about ready to begin construction, too. More on that, later.
And photos later, too.

Unsolicited Advice for Graduates

2007-05-19T22:25:00.000-06:00

Not that anybody's asking, but here's my 2007 Advice for Graduates:

1. Floss. Every day.

2. Go to Grad School. If not this year, then next year. Once you get on the Hamster Wheel that is work, it's very difficult to dismount.

3. Travel every chance you get.

4. Practice safe sex. If you are with someone who refuses to wear condoms, RUN AWAY. They are not just saying that to you because You're Special. Trust me; they say that to everyone.

5. Don't forget your pillow when you're packing for college.

If you have to pick only one from the group above, go with 4.

tag'd, bag'd and ungag'd

2007-05-19T20:43:00.000-06:00

Sueeeus and Joke tagged me. And I was ready to come out of bloggy hibernation, anyway.

So...

1. What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?
Not much, obviously. It's a private blog.

2. Are you a spiritual person?
I'm not religious. At All. I am spiritual.

3. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to have with you?
A shitload of potable water, a ton of seeds and a machete.

4. What’s your favorite childhood memory?
A magical summer at our Minnesota lake house in 1967.

5. Are these your first (tagging) memes?
No.

Here are the rules according to whomever likes to make up rules: • Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about him/herself. • People who are tagged need to write in their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. • At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. • Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I totally don't understand why people get off on porn. Maybe I haven't seen the right stuff?

2. I dropped out of high school and went on to earn six figures by the time I was 38. I also have been so broke at other times, I lived on ramen noodles and developed a love for dandelion greens until my garden came in.

3. I have never hitch-hiked, even when I was car-less for 3 years.

4. I once dated 3 men at the same time. Two of them accidently met at my house while waiting for me to get home (from a trip with the 3rd fellow) and they became life partners (years later, but still...!) I was essentially dumped by all 3 within the same 48 hours.

5. I know if you want something badly enough, and put some energy into positive thought about it, you will get it.

6. The only foods I hate are organ meats and rutabegas. Fry it or cover it with chocolate, and I'll eat it.

7. I only taste on the exhale. Inhale and taste? Not happening for me.

8. I have not had a drink since 1990. I will take a congratulatory sip of champagne at family weddings, but that's it.

I tag anyone who eventually reads this. Please let me know if you decide to participate. Thanks!

Sterling Sayings from Small Fry:

2007-04-18T19:14:00.000-06:00

1. "Don't put that spitty finger on me! I'm 6 and 1/2 for gosh sake!"

2. "I have to do EVERYTHING around here!"

3. "How about DEAD APPLES?!" (instead of 'dem apples' which I had said to him about a half hour earlier). Glad I corrected that one. Parker is always sharing my jargon with his mates, I'm sure to their parents' chagrin.

4. "GEEEEEEESUS!" when I braked extremely hard to avoid a schmuck who whipped in front of us. I guess I'm yelping 'JAYSUS!' a bit too much when I drive.

5. "Mommy, what's Douchebag?!" After a similar incident, not too long ago.

6. "Mom, this is really Icky. Does Ryan have to eat it?" I felt like saying "No, but YOU DO."

7. "We are only little fellows, you know. You are being grouchy and we just CAN'T HELP IT, OKAY?!"

8. "The water just JUMPED OUT of the bathtub!"

There are a million more. These are the keepers of the month.

Can't resist a meme about FOOD!

2007-04-13T19:20:00.000-06:00

But I'm still short on time, so I'll do it by photos...

No more bloggy goodness

2007-03-19T13:41:00.000-06:00

The breaks I've taken from blogging are becoming more of a permanent thing. We have an outdoor room and landscaping to plan and build, vegetable gardens to plant, and I've got to get my carcass into a serious work-out routine.

So, patchy blogging ahead. I'll still read your sites, comment when I can.

Goodbye for now.

Back in a week. Or so.

2007-03-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

We're packing, getting ready to go.

It's going to be heaven, even if it rains
every
damn
day.

It will beat the stuffing out of snow-since-20-Dec.

Hope everyone has uneventful weeks, unless the event is children getting scholarships, gainful employment, perfect situations for school or complete lack of so much as a sniffle.

Difficult

2007-03-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

It's Difficult to:

1) Comfort my husband long distance
2) Imagine what my father-in-law's funeral service was like
3) Be ill and entertain 2 slightly ill children
4) Dye my hair in the dark (it made sense at the time)
5) Start packing for Hawaii - it's been pretty cold here
6) Shop for spring/summer clothing for myself with the Wild Boys in tow